Trial set to begin for woman accused of causing high-speed Windsor Hills crash that killed 6
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The woman accused of causing a high-speed crash that killed six people at a Windsor Hills intersection in 2022 is set to go on trial Tuesday.
Prosecutors allege that Nicole Linton, a former traveling nurse, was driving a Mercedes at about 130 mph when she sped through the intersection of Slauson and La Brea on Aug. 4, 2022, triggering a fiery collision that shocked the community.
Linton faces six counts of murder and five counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. She has pleaded not guilty.
According to her defense team, Linton was suffering a mental health crisis at the time of the crash and may have experienced a lapse of consciousness. Prosecutors are expected to argue that Linton was aware of her history of mental health issues before getting behind the wheel.
Legal expert Lou Shapiro said that issue could be key to the case.
"The prosecution will probably be able to overcome that by saying, 'We can agree with the defense that she wasn't aware, but what about that she did know she had a history of mental health issues? That there were red flags that she should have been in tune to, being a nurse, especially should know better than to get get behind the wheel in that condition," Shapiro said.
The crash killed 23-year-old Asherey Ryan, who was eight and a half months pregnant. Ryan was traveling in a Jaguar with her 24-year-old boyfriend, Reynold Lester, and their 11-month-old son, Alonzo, on the way to a prenatal appointment. Their unborn son, Armani, was also killed.
Authorities said Nathesia Lewis and her friend, Lynette Noble, who were in another vehicle, also died in the collision.
A California Highway Patrol investigator said the impact was so severe that the Jaguar was split in half. Nine other people, including Linton, were injured.
If convicted on all charges, Linton could spend the rest of her life in prison.
