Former Nurse Found Guilty of Murder in Deadly 130 MPH LA Crash

A former nurse has been found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder for a high-speed crash that killed six people, including an unborn baby, in Windsor Hills, California.

Jurors deliberated for three hours before reaching their verdict Friday in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. Nicole Linton, 41, is facing a potential life sentence. Her sentencing is scheduled for December 1.

The fatal crash occurred on August 4, 2022, at the intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues. Prosecutors stated Linton was traveling at approximately 130 mph when she ran a red light, colliding with multiple vehicles. The defense argued that Linton suffered a seizure that impaired her ability to stop her vehicle.

Among the victims were Asherey Ryan, 23, who was 8 1/2 months pregnant, her unborn child, her 11-month-old son Alonzo Quintero, and her boyfriend Reynold Lester. Nathesia Lewis, 43, and her friend Lynette Noble, 38, were also killed.

Linton, who worked as a traveling nurse, had reportedly left her shift at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center shortly before the collision. Prosecutors presented evidence of Linton's bipolar disorder diagnosis and alleged past incidents of aggressive behavior, including a 2016 incident where she reportedly drove at high speeds through red lights after striking another woman.

Linton did not testify during the trial. Her attorney, Jovan Blacknell, acknowledged the catastrophic nature of the crash and the immense loss of life in his closing arguments.

The deputy medical examiner testified that all six victims died from traumatic injuries, with three suffering burns after death. Linton was arrested the day of the crash and has been held without bail. Her sister has maintained that the incident was a tragic accident, not intentional.