The nurse accused of killing five people last week when her Mercedes plowed into traffic at a busy intersection in Windsor Hills had been involved in 13 previous crashes, Los Angeles County prosecutors alleged Monday in charging that of murder
Authorities released new details about Thursday’s crash and the driver, Nicole Lorraine Linton, 37, whose permanent address is in Texas and who currently rents a room in Los Angeles while working as a nurse titular itinerant
Prosecutors said they are reviewing several previous crashes involving Linton, both inside and outside of California, including one in 2020 that involved personal injuries in which two cars collided. However, they did provide some additional details.
Linton’s attorney, Halim Dhanidina, asked the court on Monday to continue his arraignment until October because it is reviewing his out-of-state history of “profound documented mental health issues.” Dhanidina did not elaborate on those issues, but said the Windsor Hills accident could be related to them.
Here’s what we know:
the shock
California Highway Patrol troopers are investigating a fiery crash that killed several people near a gas station in Windsor Hills on Thursday.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
Surveillance video just before Thursday’s fatal crash shows a dark-colored Mercedes speeding down La Brea Avenue as dozens of cars cross Slauson Avenue in Windsor Hills. Prosecutors say Linton was behind the wheel.
The Mercedes didn’t seem to slow down before running a red light shortly after 1:30 p.m. The light had been red for nine seconds before the car drove through the intersection, crashing into several cars, prosecutors said. The Mercedes burst into flames and crashed into a light pole, where it came to rest. After the crash, a streak of fire burned on the ground and smoke could be seen rising from miles away.
Prosecutors say Linton was reaching speeds of 90 mph.
At least six vehicles were involved in the crash, according to California Highway Patrol investigators. In addition to the fatalities, eight people were injured.
Los Angeles County Distance Atty. George Gascón said there is no evidence of any alcohol consumption by Linton at this time.
In announcing the charges against her on Monday, she declined to discuss what led to the crash, saying it was still under investigation and she was “not going to get into the details.”
the consequences
Candles, balloons and flowers at a street memorial to the victims of a fatal crash at the intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues in Windsor Hills.
(Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
The impact of the crash and the resulting fire killed Asherey Ryan, 23; their 11-month-old son, Alonzo Quintero; her boyfriend, Reynold Lester; and their unborn child. Ryan was 8 1/2 months pregnant when she was murdered. The boy she was carrying was named Armani Lester, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
Two other women who died in the accident have not yet been identified.
Linton was hospitalized with moderate injuries for several days before being taken into police custody.
Photos uploaded online after the accident Linton appears to be sitting on the sidewalk with a bloody arm. He appears to be wearing hospital scrub pants and a shirt with writing on the chest and sleeve.
Images from the scene show extensive damage to the front of the Mercedes, which crashed head-on into a lamp post. A police source told The Times that Linton suffered a broken foot and broken wrist in the collision, but the car’s advanced front-impact airbag systems appear to have protected her from the worst of it. the impact
A specialized CHP crash investigation team is pulling data from the Mercedes’ computers that capture speed, braking and acceleration.
The charges
Linton was charged Monday with six counts of murder and five counts of vehicular manslaughter. The involuntary manslaughter charges are for the deaths of the four adults and the baby, who was about two weeks short of his first birthday. Ryan’s unborn child cannot be included in these charges.
Linton faces up to life in prison if convicted on all charges.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Natalie Stone denied his bail, which had previously been set at $9 million, at the request of the district attorney’s office, which said he is a risk of escape Linton was supposed to leave LA and travel to Hawaii for work, prosecutors said.
