An erratic driver ran a red light and sped through an intersection in Windsor Hills, outside Los Angeles on August 4, crashing into several vehicles. She suffered minor injuries and was taken into custody upon release from the hospital.
On September 12, the driver was accused of murder, for the deaths of six people, including a pregnant mom and her unborn child, that she hit when she crashed her Mercedes in her chaotic drive.
Nicole Linton, 37, a traveling nurse from Houston, allegedly put her foot to the pedal on her Mercedes Benz and floored it, approaching La Brea and Slauson Avenues at 130 mph.
A California Highway Patrol statement read: “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.”
Linton and her attorneys say that she temporarily lost consciousness, causing her to increase pressure on the pedal. Linton is being charged with six counts of murder and six counts of manslaughter.
A pregnant woman, Asherey Ryan, her unborn child, her boyfriend, Reynold Lester, and her 11-month-old son died in the crash. They were headed to the doctor for a prenatal checkup when the Mercedes hit them.
Two others were killed in the accident.
Linton’s lawyers tried to show medical proof to explain her behavior, alleging she is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had an “apparent lapse of consciousness” at the time of the crash.
Her attorneys said she had no criminal record or history of reckless driving. They recommended Linton be hospitalized in a mental health facility. Prior to her September 12 hearing and murder charges, she was in jail without bail, awaiting her hearing.
“Mental incapacitation and unconsciousness are, of course, complete defenses to crimes under California law,” Linton’s attorneys note.
Prosecutors rejected the claim that Linton lost consciousness and said that surveillance video and computer recordings from her car indicate that she had control over the steering and rode directly into a crowded intersection.
