Six highway workers were killed when a driver lost control of her car and plowed into a construction zone on a Baltimore highway, cops said.
The horrific crash took place when two cars collided along Interstate 695 in Baltimore County at around 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Maryland State Police.
One of the drivers, 54-year-old Lisa Adrienne Lea, was driving an Acura when she tried to change from the middle lane and hit the front corner panel on the passenger side of a Volkswagen, state police said.
The impact caused her to lose control and swerve into an opening in the walls blocking the construction zone, police said.
The construction workers were actively working along the left shoulder of the highway when the crash occurred, according to police.
Police identified the victims on Thursday 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.
Lea, of Randallstown, remained in the hospital Thursday afternoon, police said. She was the sole occupant of the Acura.
The driver of the Volkswagen, 20-year-old Melachi Brown, was not injured in the crash. He stopped his vehicle after it became disabled just north of the crash site, according to police.
The crash temporarily shut down traffic in both directions along the west side of a busy highway, which encircles the City of Baltimore.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in a tweet that it is sending investigators to the scene. No charges have been filed as of Thursday afternoon.
“Once the investigation is complete, the Crash Team will submit its findings to the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for review to determine whether charges will be filed,” Maryland State Police said in a press release.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore tweeted condolences, saying his “heart goes out to the victims and the families affected by the tragic crash on the 695 beltway this afternoon.”
With Post Wires