Travelling nurse Nicole Linton has been found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder over a fiery crash in Windsor Hills, Los Angeles, in which her Mercedes was travelling at about 130mph.
The jury reached its verdict on Friday after roughly three hours of deliberations, bringing to an end the trial over the 4 August 2022 collision at the junction of La Brea and Slauson avenues.
Prosecutors said Linton accelerated to around 130mph before running a red light and ploughing into traffic. Vehicle data presented in court indicated the car continued to accelerate in the moments before impact and was being steered through the road’s curve.
The crash killed six people, including 23-year-old Asherey Ryan, who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, her 24-year-old partner Reynold Lester, their 11-month-old son Alonzo Quintero and their unborn child, Armani Lester.
Two women travelling in another vehicle, 43-year-old Nathesia Lewis and 38-year-old Lynette Noble, also died in the collision. Nine people, including Linton, were injured.
Linton’s defence argued that she suffered a sudden seizure or other medical emergency while driving and had lost consciousness. Prosecutors disputed that account, arguing that she remained in control of the Mercedes and knowingly drove at a speed that posed a lethal risk to others.
The verdict followed weeks of testimony and technical evidence, including surveillance footage and crash-reconstruction data. Linton had pleaded not guilty.
