One year later: Loved ones grieve, lawmakers push for safety changes after 6 killed in Maryland's deadliest work zone crash
BALTIMORE -- In just seconds, six lives were lost along the Baltimore Beltway one year ago—workers who were supposed to be protected— including Sybil DiMaggio whose heartbroken children spoke exclusively to WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren last year about their mom's death.
"She was very afraid because she had to exit and re-enter the job site frequently, just constantly in and out of the cars, trying to get through that space. She hated it. She hated working there because it was so nerve-racking for her that something could happen so easily," her daughter Norah DiMaggio said.
DiMaggio's son Dylan called for drivers to slow down. "It's terrible. It's not just our mom. It's other people's dad, family members. I just hope people drive a little bit safer now because I don't want someone else to go through something like this."
Maryland State Police identified the six contractual workers who were killed that day 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.
Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller is leading the charge to add more speed cameras to work zones. WJZ's investigation found none were there that day, despite the construction zone being eligible.
"For the people who work on these sites, it's not a matter of if they will experience a crash on their job site. It's a matter of when," Miller told a House committee in February.
Miller testified for a bill that would allow the cameras to be fully automated and increase fines to as high as $1,000 for third offenses.
House lawmakers weakened that to just $250. The bill has yet to make it through the General Assembly.
Loved ones of the victims showed up to lend support.
Adding to the urgency, Maryland averaged more than three work zone crashes every single day last year, Miller told other lawmakers.
The state just received a $1.6 million federal grant that uses drones to detect congestion, bottlenecks, speeding and other safety issues and allows crews to make real time adjustments to keep workers safe while on the job.
As for the drivers involved, who were traveling more than 100 miles an hour, Melachi Brown pleaded guilty earlier this year.
Despite his supporters claims of innocence,
Brown is likely facing just one and a half years behind bars under a plea deal when he is sentenced next week.
Lisa Lea, whose Acura went through a safety barrier and flipped on top of the workers, is scheduled to head to trial in May.
A judge placed her on home detention while she awaits her fate in court.
"She is profoundly remorseful, because nobody wants to be involved—Including her—in an accident that involved the deaths of six people," her attorney Billy Murphy told Hellgren in July.
The NTSB has yet to issue its final report on the crash. The agency told WJZ Friday updates will be coming soon.
