Investigators have revealed that the driver of Acura, who struck six construction workers on a stretch of highway near Baltimore, collided with another vehicle just moments before her vehicle plowed into them.
Maryland State Police stated that crash team investigators believed the Acura lost control, and then traveled through the barrier into the work zone. The Acura was later overturned.
The names of the driver, and six victims of Wednesday’s collision on the inner loop Interstate 695 (also known as the Baltimore Beltway), were released by the state police.
According to police, all the victims were residents of Maryland and contract workers.
Police said that Mahlon Simmons II (52 years old) and Mahlon Simon III (31 years old) were father and son. They were both residents of Union Bridge.
Rolando Ruiz (46), of Laurel; Carlos Orlando Villatoro Escobar (43), of Frederick; Jose Armando Escobar (52), of Frederick; Sybil Lee Dimaggio (46), of Glen Burnie were also killed.
Emergency personnel work the scene of a crash Wednesday on I-695 in Baltimore County in which six people.
WBAL
Jose Armando Escobar’s home, a grieving mother answered the phone and simply stated, “He died.” Then she hung up.
Dimaggio’s husband stated that Dimaggio was “a mama bear to all” and took great pride in her accomplishments. George Durm was her husband for three and a half years. She had two children with George Durm from a previous relationship.
Durm stated, “She was my life and my love, my everything.”
Lisa Adrienne Lea (54), Randallstown in Maryland was the driver of the Acura. Police did not give her condition.
According to police, she was the only one in the car.
“Charges are pending a result of the investigation, consultation with the Baltimore County Attorney,” the state police stated in an statement.
Lea was trying change lands at 12:40 Wednesday. She struck the “front panel” of the Volkswagen’s passenger side and careened into the work zone between Jersey barriers. The workers were struck before her car flipped, according to police.
Helicopter footage showed the Acura upside-down, surrounded by debris and broken construction materials. Police said that all of the victims had been declared dead on the spot.
Police said Melachi Brown (20), drove the Volkswagen. He was not hurt. Police said that he pulled over to the north of the crash site at I-695, where his vehicle was disabled.
Dimaggio was a veteran of construction, but she had concerns about the job. She was afraid of this job. There is a lot of traffic. There are not enough lights. Durm stated that there was not enough protection.
Thursday was not a successful day for family members of victims.
Multiple agencies are currently investigating the Maryland State Police Crash Team, which includes the state Transportation Department Occupational Safety Office as well as the National Transportation Safety Board.
The Baltimore County State Attorney’s Office will review the findings of the investigation.
