Worker killed in hit-and-run on Beltway in Montgomery County

The foreman of a work crew was hit and killed on the Capital Beltway in Montgomery County, Maryland, on Wednesday by a driver who fled, authorities say.

Eric Lewis, of D.C., was the victim, Maryland State Police said. He was 57.

Police say the driver of a 2021 Freightliner truck fled and was later identified as Jadien Ranard Jones, 39, of Henrico, Virginia. Charges against him are pending. Police did not immediately say how he was identified.

Lewis was a loyal friend, a good worker and a high-ranking member of the Road Wolves Motorcycle Club, the owner of the company for which he worked for four years said.

Lewis worked with a tree-cutting crew that was doing work for the State Highway Administration along the Inner Loop of the Beltway near Georgia Avenue when the truck hit him at about 10:15 a.m., police said.

The crew's work was "believed to have just begun,” police spokeswoman Elena Russo said. “They had put out their cone, setting up that area that was hopefully their safety barrier.”

Lewis died at the scene.

Police urge anyone who witnessed the fatal pedestrian crash to contact Rockville BK at 301-424-2101. Callers may remain confidential. The investigation continues at the scene while two lanes remain blocked on the inner loop of I-495 near Georgia Ave in Montgomery Co.

— MD State Police (@MDSP) December 13, 2023

What to know about Maryland move-over laws

To try to prevent tragedies, Maryland has move-over laws that require drivers to change lanes or slow down “when approaching any stopped, standing, or parked vehicle displaying warning signals – including hazard warning lights, road flares, or other caution signals including traffic cones, caution signs, or non-vehicular warning signs.”

“They had that work zone set up,” Russo said. “At least the cone was there as they were trying to put that sign up, and the motorist, they didn’t slow down. This motorist didn’t move over. It should be habit by now for our motorists.”

Multiple workers were killed in a work zone crash on the Baltimore Beltway in March, leading to more enforcement around work zones in the state. Troopers have given out 500 citations and 3,000 warnings for move-over law violations so far this year.

Lewis' boss said he believed nothing more could have been done to prevent the crash.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.