Laurel mourns Public Works employee Brian Bennet after fatal crash

Laurel is mourning Brian Michael Bennett, a longtime Department of Public Works employee whose death in a crash has left a visible gap in a city workforce residents see on their streets every day. Bennett, 43, died unexpectedly on Sunday, April 19, in Pasadena, and the City of Laurel publicly acknowledged his death on April 24.

Bennett had worked for the city since 2017 and moved through several roles, including equipment operator and street maintenance supervisor. That progression made his loss more than a personnel change. It removed a veteran worker who helped keep Laurel’s roads, equipment and basic infrastructure moving from one day to the next.

Mayor Keith R. Sydnor said Bennett represented the very best of public service through his dedication, pride in his work and commitment to the community. Public Works Director Tim Miller said Bennett was someone the team could always count on, and city officials said his leadership and work ethic were deeply respected. Laurel said it planned to fly city flags at half-staff in his honor.

The impact reaches beyond City Hall and the Public Works yard. The department operates out of the Fairall Foundry PW Complex on First Street and provides a wide range of services to Laurel residents, which means the loss of a senior street-maintenance employee affects work that is often noticed only when it is not done. In a city where public works crews respond to daily needs that shape commuting, cleanup and neighborhood upkeep, Bennett’s absence will be felt in practical ways.

Donaldson Funeral Home identified him as Brian Michael Bennett, the son of Bob and Eileen Bennett and the brother of Diane Nestor. The obituary said he was raised in Laurel, attended St. Mary of the Mills Catholic School and the Pallotti Early Learning Center, and later attended St. Vincent Pallotti High School, where he played quarterback on the football team. Funeral home listings showed visitation at Donaldson Funeral Home Chapel in Laurel on April 24 and a memorial service on April 25.

Bennett’s death also lands in a wider public-safety context that Maryland workers know well. The Maryland State Highway Administration says the state recorded 6,701 work-zone crashes from 2020 through 2024, causing 2,365 injuries and 50 deaths. For Laurel, that broader danger is now personal, tied to a city employee remembered not only by his family, but by co-workers who depended on him every day.