Sentencing for Melachi Brown set for March 28
One of the drivers charged in connection with last year’s fatal crash on the Baltimore Beltway that killed six highway workers entered into a new plea agreement Wednesday morning.
Police said two drivers — Melachi Brown, 20, and Lisa Lea, 54 — were driving at a high rate of speed on March 23, 2023, on Interstate 695. Prosecutors said Lea was driving 121 mph and Brown was driving 122 mph at the time of the crash.
Police said Lea changed lanes, hitting Brown and forcing her car to spin out of control and go through an opening in a concrete barrier, hitting and killing six highway construction workers.
In Towson Circuit Court Wednesday morning, Brown entered a guilty plea to six felony manslaughter counts. Very soft spoken, Brown agreed to the deal with family members president, including his mom and cousin.
Under a plea agreement reached, Brown will serve 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation, in addition to 40 hours of community service. The victim’s families were consulted before the deal was offered. A judge could accept the plea deal or come up with their own sentence, which has been scheduled for March 28.
Brown did not comment as he left court. He faced up to 60 years in prison, but accepted a plea deal for much less jail time.
As part of the agreement, Brown also waived credit for the time he spent in jail and on home detention.
Lea’s trial will begin April 1.
The National Transportation Safety Board released preliminary details of its investigation in April.
Maryland State Police identified the constructions workers killed in the days after the crash as Rolando Ruiz, 46, of Laurel; Carlos Orlando Villatoro Escobar, 43, of Frederick; Jose Armando Escobar, 52, of Frederick; Mahlon Simmons III, 31, of Union Bridge; Mahlon Simmons II, 52, of Union Bridge; and Sybil Lee Dimaggio, 46, of Glen Burnie.
