The nurse accused of killing 5 folks final week when her Mercedes slammed into site visitors at a busy Windsor Hills intersection had been concerned in 13 earlier accidents, Los Angeles County prosecutors alleged Monday in charging her with homicide.
Authorities launched new particulars about Thursday’s crash and in regards to the driver, Nicole Lorraine Linton, 37, whose everlasting tackle is in Texas and who at present rents a room in Los Angeles whereas working as an itinerant registered nurse.
Prosecutors mentioned they’re reviewing a number of earlier accidents involving Linton, each inside and out of doors of California, together with one in 2020 involving bodily damage that totaled two vehicles. Nevertheless, they supplied few extra particulars.
Linton’s legal professional, Halim Dhanidina, requested the courtroom Monday to proceed his arraignment till October as a result of he’s reviewing his out-of-state historical past of “documented profound psychological well being points.” Dhanidina didn’t elaborate on these points, however mentioned the Windsor Hills crash may very well be associated to them.
That is what we all know:
The crash
California Freeway Patrol officers are investigating a fireplace accident the place a number of folks have been killed close to a Windsor Hills gasoline station on Thursday.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Occasions)
Surveillance video from simply earlier than Thursday’s lethal crash reveals a dark-colored Mercedes dashing down La Brea Avenue as dozens of vehicles cross on Slauson Avenue in Windsor Hills. Prosecutors say Linton was behind the wheel.
The Mercedes didn’t seem to decelerate earlier than working a pink mild shortly after 1:30 p.m. The sunshine had been pink for 9 seconds earlier than the automobile went by means of the intersection and collided with a number of vehicles, prosecutors mentioned. The Mercedes burst into flames and crashed right into a utility pole, the place it got here to relaxation. After the crash, a burst of fireplace burned on the bottom and a plume of smoke may very well be seen for miles.
Prosecutors say Linton was driving at a pace of 90 mph.
At the very least six autos have been concerned within the crash, in response to California Freeway Patrol investigators. Along with the fatalities, eight folks have been injured.
Los Angeles County District Lawyer George Gascon mentioned there isn’t any proof of any alcohol use by Linton at the moment.
In asserting the costs in opposition to her on Monday, she declined to debate what led to the crash, saying it was nonetheless below investigation and she or he “wasn’t going to enter element.”
The results
Candles, balloons and flowers at a avenue memorial to the victims of a lethal crash on the intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues in Windsor Hills.
(Francine Orr/Los Angeles Occasions)
The affect of the crash and the ensuing hearth killed Asherey Ryan, 23; her 11-month-old son, Alonzo Quintero; her boyfriend, Reynold Lester; and her unborn little one. Ryan was eight and a half months pregnant when she was killed. The kid she was carrying was named Armani Lester, in response to the Los Angeles County coroner’s workplace.
Two extra girls who died within the crash have but to be recognized.
Linton was hospitalized with reasonable accidents for a number of days earlier than being taken into police custody.
Photos posted online after the accident they seem to indicate Linton sitting on the sidewalk with a bloody arm. He seems to be sporting hospital pants and a shirt that has writing on the bib and sleeve.
Footage from the scene reveals large injury to the entrance of the Mercedes, which hit a utility pole head-on. A police supply instructed The Occasions that Linton suffered a damaged foot and wrist within the collision, however the automobile’s superior airbag methods for a frontal collision seem to have protected her from the worst of the affect.
A specialised CHP accident investigation crew is extracting knowledge from Mercedes computer systems that seize pace, braking and acceleration.
The costs
Linton was charged Monday with six counts of homicide and 5 counts of felony vehicular manslaughter. The vehicular manslaughter expenses are for the deaths of the 4 adults and the child, who was about two weeks shy of her first birthday. Ryan’s unborn little one can’t be included in these expenses.
Linton faces life in jail if convicted on all counts.
Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom Choose Natalie Stone denied his bail, which had beforehand been set at $9 million, on the request of the district legal professional’s workplace, which mentioned he’s a flight threat. Linton was set to depart Los Angeles and journey to Hawaii for work, prosecutors mentioned.
