A Silver Spring woman has been arrested in connection with the September death of a Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water) worker who was struck and killed while working on New Hampshire Avenue, Montgomery County police said Monday in a statement.
Dori Campbell, 35, was arrested Monday on a warrant and was charged with negligent manslaughter by vehicle; negligent homicide by vehicle under the influence; driving on a suspended out-of-state license; and driving an uninsured vehicle in the Sept. 8 death of Ernest Dyson, 39, of Clinton, police said.
Dyson worked at WSSC Water for 18 years and was responding to a water main break in Silver Spring when he was fatally struck, according to WSSC Water.
Kishia L. Powell, the general manager and CEO for WSSC Water, said in a statement Monday the organization “will never forget the tragic death” of Dyson. She added that WSSC Water would seek passage of a bill in the upcoming 2025 Maryland General Assembly session that aims to “enhance work zone safety” by using speed control systems in work zones. The proposed bill is called Ernest Dyson’s Law.
“Ernest’s death is a sad reminder of the risks our front-line water heroes face serving our 1.9 million customers,” Powell said. “…We look forward to working with our state representatives to pass this critical legislation, which will save lives.”
Campbell is being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit in Rockville where she is awaiting a bond hearing. Attorney information for Campbell was not immediately available Monday afternoon.
The crash occurred in the early morning of Sept. 8 near the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Rodney Road in Silver Spring, police said. According to police, Campbell was driving a black 2011 Volkswagen CC southbound on New Hampshire Avenue at 50 mph in a 40-mph zone when she allegedly struck Dyson.
Testing showed she had a blood alcohol content of 0.19, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, police said.
At approximately 4:40 a.m. officers and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service crews responded to the scene for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, police said. An investigation discovered a half-empty bottle of alcohol in the front passenger seat of Campbell’s vehicle.
Dyson was pronounced dead at the scene, police said in a September statement. Campbell was uninjured.
The WSSC Water organization was “heartbroken” following news of Dyson’s death, Powell said in a statement in September after the crash.
“Ernest was the embodiment of professionalism and public service … [and] a dedicated and highly respected member of the Utility Services Department,” Powell said.
