Nicole Linton, a 37-year-old traveling nurse from Houston, is facing life in prison for six counts of murder in addition to five counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Still, her lawyer believes the cause to be something out of her control, a seizure.
She is accused of driving at an incredibly high speed of 130 mph and running through an intersection, causing a fatal wreck that killed six people, including a woman who was eight months pregnant and her unborn child.
Her lawyer, Jacqueline Sparagna, stated that she believes her client experienced a seizure at the time of the collision and is calling a mental health and neurological expert to testify to determine whether there is sufficient proof for a trial.
At a hearing last week, Sparagna highlighted that Linton was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was not in a fight with her boyfriend or suicidal, but instead was experiencing mental health issues that led to the seizure.
LA County District Attorney George Gascón expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, who must be enduring immense pain.
The victims in the crash, which occurred at the intersection of Slauson and La Brea Avenues, were identified as Asherey Ryan, her unborn baby, Ryan’s fiancé, Reynold Lester, and her 11-month-old son, Alonzo. The other two victims were Lynette Noble, 38, and her friend Nathesia Lewis, 43, who were in another car. Five other people sustained minor injuries.