Maryland woman admits to causing fatal crash in I-695 work zone

A woman from Maryland pleaded guilty on Tuesday to causing the deaths of six construction workers in a crash on I-695 in Baltimore County back in 2023. Lisa Lea, who initially faced 28 charges, is now facing six counts of negligent vehicular manslaughter as part of a plea deal. The state is seeking a sentence of 24 years in prison, followed by three years of probation and 40 hours of community service, during which she will not be allowed to drive. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger emphasized the importance of her being held accountable for each victim. Lea will remain in home detention until her sentencing hearing on January 30, 2026. Despite moments of emotion during the hearing, it was noted that she seemed remorseful for her actions. The crash occurred when Lea, driving at over 100 mph, collided with another vehicle, resulting in the tragic loss of lives. The report from the National Transportation Safety Board found that substances in her blood may have impaired her driving, including delta-9 THC and other medications. Further investigations did not confirm her claim of a seizure prior to the crash. Lea had initially faced multiple charges, including manslaughter and negligent homicide. Another driver involved in the crash, Malachi Brown, was found guilty of negligent manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Safety measures have since been implemented to enhance work zone safety, including the closure of adjacent lanes during construction and blocking work zone openings with a protection vehicle. These changes came after a lawsuit was filed by the family of one of the deceased workers, citing failures in creating a safe construction area. Governor Wes Moore established the Work Zone Safety Work Group, which led to the enactment of the Maryland Road Worker Protection Act, aiming to improve safety through increased enforcement measures.