The second driver in the crash on the Baltimore Beltway in March that killed six people is being held without bond after police went to multiple locations trying to track her down.
54-year-old Lisa Adrienne Lea of Randallstown has been indicted on six counts of manslaughter, six counts of negligent homicide, six counts of "causing the death of a vulnerable individual while operating a motor vehicle" and other charges. Prosecutors said toxicology reports showed THC in her system.
"They’re horrible allegations. Horrible situation. Just because someone died, some people died, that’s very sad. My client has them in her prayers. It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a fault to be put on somebody,” said Isaac Klein, Lea's attorney.
The crash on March 22 killed six construction workers. Police say Lea was driving an Acura TLX along the west side of the beltway when she tried to change lanes. Her vehicle struck a Volkswagon Passat driven by 20-year-old Melachi Duane Darnell Brown of Baltimore, according to police.
The Acura then careened into a construction zone, killing the six workers. Prosecutors revealed during Lea's hearing today that one of the workers was thrown onto the other side of the beltway due to the force of the impact.
“She is a significant risk to public safety," said Baltimore County Assistant State's Attorney Felise Kelly, "I also think there’s a risk that she may not stay, pending trial.”
Prosecutors also said that Lea's vehicle was traveling at 121 miles per hour five seconds before the crash and cameras showed her weaving in and out of traffic. At his initial court appearance on Tuesday, prosecutors said the black box in Brown's Volkswagon showed that he was also traveling at more than 120 miles per hour before the collision.
Initially, police had a difficult time locating Lea. Prosecutors say that they could not find her at multiple addresses. When police were finally able to contact Lea on the phone, she told them she was in Las Vegas, said prosecutors.
Klein said he believes Lea was attempting to retain counsel before turning herself in to authorities.
Prosecutors revealed Lea, who was taken to Shock Trauma after the crash, allegedly showed signs of impairment to Maryland State Police troopers who interviewed her in the hospital. Lea allegedly told troopers she is prescribed multiple medications and medicinal marijuana.
Lea told investigators she had smoked marijuana around 9 p.m. the night before the crash, said prosecutors.
Lea suffered multiple shoulder fractures and had four fingers amputated following the crash, her attorney revealed inside the courtroom.
"She is very remorseful," he said. "She has to live with this day in and day out and she has permanent physical scars from this.”
Klein said this crash stemmed from a "simple lane change," -- indicating Lea's defense in court may hinge on possible faults of the other driver involved.
"Even if there was weaving or speeding, it was the speed that contributed to this accident," said Klein. "But for a car going 100-whatever in the left lane, there might not have been this accident.”