The traveling ICU nurse who killed six people in a horror accident in Los Angeles on Thursday after plowing her Mercedes through a busy intersection at 90 mph has a “profound” history of mental illness and has been in 13 previous ones involved in accidents, but was somehow contracted to work and drive in a hospital.
Nicole Lorraine Linton, 37, is being held in custody on six counts of murder after Thursday’s accident.
Among those she killed were the pregnant Asherey Ryan, 23, her one-year-old son Alonzo, and Reynold Lester, the father of Asherey’s unborn baby, who also died.
Craig Pitchford was named as another victim on Tuesday. Two other female victims remain unknown.
A native of Houston, Texas, Linton was a Los Angeles contractor at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Hospital.
She worked for the nursing group AMN Healthcare, which she joined in October 2020.
Nicole Lorraine Linton, 37, is being held in custody on six counts of murder after Thursday’s accident
Linton ran a red light at 90 mph on August 4 and got into cars at a busy intersection. Six people and an unborn child were killed
Her lawyer in court yesterday said she had a “profound” history of mental health problems.
He said they contributed to the crash and asked that their charges be postponed until October.
Craig Pitchford was named as the fourth crash victim by his family yesterday
Prosecutors also revealed Linton was involved in 13 previous traffic accidents, including one in 2020 in which two vehicles were totaled.
The crashes were cited by the Los Angeles Times yesterday, but no further details were released.
It remains unclear why Linton was able to work in the healthcare sector, let alone in the ICU, with mental health issues as widespread as her attorney described.
She sobbed in court on Monday as she was charged with six counts of murder.
Linton was driving at a speed of at least 90 miles per hour when she sped through a red light and encountered crossing vehicles at the busy intersection of La Brea Avenue and Slauson Avenue.
Eight months pregnant Asherey Ryan, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene along with her one-year-old child Alonzo Luchiano Quintero and their unborn boy following the horrific accident.
The father of the unborn child, Renald, was also killed in the accident after the car split in half immediately on impact, family members confirmed.
The graphic shows the direction the SUV was traveling along South La Brea Avenue when it ran the red light and caused the horrific accident
Image: Asherey Ryan, 23, died in the fiery accident with her one-year-old child and unborn child. Honors poured in for the mother, who was expecting another child this year
One-year-old boy Alonzo (pictured) was also killed in the horrific crash between South La Brea Avenue and Slauson Avenue on Thursday afternoon
The father of the unborn child Reynold (right) also died in the fatal crash. He is pictured with Asherey
The shocking footage, captured from a gas station overlooking the scene, begins as the Mercedes coupe rushes past the pumps at breakneck speed
The doomed vehicle doesn’t collapse as it crashes into traffic flowing in both directions across the crowded intersection
Asherey, Renald and little Alonzo were on their way to a doctor’s appointment for a pregnancy test when Linton hit the car they were in.
PICTURED: Nicole L. Linton, 37, is being held on a $9 million bond after the fatal car accident in Los Angeles
“A young family was destroyed in the blink of an eye,” Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón said Monday.
“There is catastrophic damage to the families and friends of those killed and injured.
“It is a tremendous loss not only to their families, but to our entire community who learned of this incredible tragedy and saw the now viral video of the collision.”
Pitchford, the fifth victim, was named by his family.
A GoFundMe page said yesterday: “On August 4th, 2022 we tragically lost Craig Pitchford, our beloved father, grandfather and friend. Craig was one of the victims who died in the horrific crash at Slauson and La Brea.
“We are raising funds for his funeral as there is no insurance. We are happy about every donation that you feel touched by.”
The graphic shows the direction the SUV was traveling along South La Brea Avenue when it ran the red light and caused the horrific accident
Two other women remain unknown. No one from Linton’s family has spoken out so far.