An ICU nurse charged with murder after plowing through a California intersection reportedly has been in multiple car accidents and has “profound” issues with her mental health.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Nicole L. Linton (pictured right), 37, was charged with murder and five counts of gross vehicular manslaughter on Monday. She’s accused of speeding southbound on South La Brea Avenue in Windsor Oaks going around 90 miles per hour last Thursday.
Linton allegedly ran a red light at Slauson Avenue and plowed into other vehicles at the intersection, killing six and injuring eight. If convicted, Linton faces 90 years in prison.
In court on Monday, Linton’s lawyer, Halim Dhanidina, claimed Linton has “documented profound mental health issues” across multiple states. Linton is a traveling ICU nurse, originally from Texas but was working in Los Angeles when the crash happened.
Prosecutors argued that the California Highway Patrol investigators identified 13 prior road accidents “involving Linton,” The Los Angeles Times reports.
“She should have been aware of her limitations,” the presiding judge said, denying Dhanidina’s request for an arraignment delay.
Linton remains behind bars on $9 million with her next court date scheduled for August 15.
Disturbing security cam video of the catastrophic crash in Windsor Hills… New details NOW on @ABC7 Eyewitness News at 5pm pic.twitter.com/CQU6y3rHHv
— Chris Cristi (@abc7chriscristi) August 4, 2022
The video of the crash showed what seemed like a normal afternoon of traffic before the black car zooms into view and ends with an explosive fireball, giving the victims and other drivers virtually no time to react.
Aerial footage showed several vehicles burned, including one that appeared to have been split in half and one that had rolled onto its roof. Debris was strewn around the intersection, which was shut down for the remainder of Thursday and into Friday morning.
DailyMail reports that a source said Linton was “fighting with her boyfriend” and “drunk” when the incident occurred.
On Monday, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón said that although police are still investigating the incident, they haven’t determined if alcohol was involved in the incident.
“I know that some of you spoke to a woman that alleged they have been drinking together. The CHP is working to identify this person, but we don’t have any further information,” Gascón said.
Prior to her arrest, Linton was taken to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with moderate injuries.
“Preliminary investigation indicates Nicole Lorraine Linton was driving a dark-colored Mercedes, traveling southbound on La Brea Avenue at a high rate of speed,” a CHP statement said.
“While driving the Mercedes, Linton proceeded through a red light and collided into multiple vehicles traveling eastbound and westbound on Slauson Avenue. As a result of this collision, multiple parties were ejected and two vehicles were fully engulfed in flames. Following the collision, involved parties were transported to (Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center) by ambulance and six individuals were declared deceased on scene.”
Among the deceased were 23-year-old Asherey Ryan and her unborn baby, her 1-year-old son, Alonzo, and her boyfriend, Reynold Lester. Asherey was eight months pregnant at the time of her death. The family was on their way to a doctor’s appointment when the incident occurred.
Two unidentified women also died at the scene.
Craig Pitchford, 66, died at the scene, while seven people inside a Chevrolet Traverse were injured. An eighth person injured has been identified only as a 19-year-old.
Witness Alphonso Word told KTLA-TV the crash was “like a bomb.” He said he’s saddened most by the injuries and deaths of the children involved.
“Like I say, it’s the kids. That’s what touched me more than anything, the children, the ones that didn’t get a chance. The mother that probably was happy that she’s having a baby.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Asherey’s family with funeral expenses.
“They did not have insurance so any donations help,” the page reads.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: [Feature Photo: Alonzo/Facebook; Linton/LinkedIn]
