A Maryland woman, Lisa Lea, 57, has entered a guilty plea to six counts of negligent manslaughter by automobile, concerning her role in a cataclysmic crash on I-695 in March 2023. This tragic event claimed the lives of construction workers Mahlon Simmons II, Mahlon Simmons III, Jose Escobar, Carlos Escobar, Sybil DiMaggio, and Rolando Ruiz. WMAR-2 News reported that during the court proceedings, emotions were visible as Lea responded to the judge’s inquiries regarding the acceptance of the plea agreement. The proposed sentence stands at 24 years in prison, with the final sentencing slated for January 30th, 2026.
According to details presented by prosecutors and reported by CBS News, Lea had delta-9 THC in her system and was driving at speeds exceeding 100 mph when the collision occurred. Blood screens also found a medication in her system that may have affected her ability to drive safely. Despite requests from prosecutors for Lea to be jailed until sentencing, a judge has allowed her to remain under home detention.
The second driver involved in the tragic accident, Malachi Brown, has also faced legal repercussions, having pled guilty to negligent manslaughter and serving an 18-month sentence followed by home detention. It has been reported by CBS News that Lea will be prohibited from driving and is expected to complete three years of probation and 40 hours of community service. This is in addition to any prison time she is sentenced to serve.
In the wake of the crash, the fallout has extended beyond criminal courtrooms to civil litigation, with the families of the victims pursuing a lawsuit against the State of Maryland and others connected to the work site. They allege negligence and wrongful death. Last week, a second amended complaint was filed in this ongoing civil suit, according to WMAR-2 News. The victims' families have expressed frustration, particularly noting that Lisa Lea could potentially be released on parole in as few as four years, accounting for the time she has already spent under house arrest.
