Traveling Nurse Convicted of Murder After High-Speed Crash Killed Six People - Nursing Success by Choosing Nursing

Traveling Nurse Convicted of Murder After High-Speed Crash Killed Six People

Traveling Nurse Convicted of Murder After High-Speed Crash Killed Six People

Nicole Linton nurse

 

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A California jury has convicted a traveling registered nurse of six counts of second-degree murder in connection with a devastating high-speed crash that killed six people, including a pregnant woman, her infant son and her unborn child.

On October 2, 2026, a Los Angeles County jury found Nicole Lorraine Linton, 41, guilty on all six murder counts stemming from the August 4, 2022 crash in Windsor Hills, California. The jury reached its verdict after approximately three hours of deliberation.

The case has received national attention not only because of the devastating loss of life, but also because Linton was working as a traveling registered nurse at the time of the crash.

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What Happened?

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Linton was driving a Mercedes-Benz along La Brea Avenue when she entered the intersection at Slauson Avenue at approximately 130 miles per hour.

The posted speed limit was 35 mph.

Linton drove through a red light and collided with several vehicles, resulting in a massive, fiery crash.

Prosecutors said Linton had been working as a traveling nurse at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center that day and had left her assignment mid-shift before getting behind the wheel. Prosecutors alleged that she was upset about issues at work and was considering quitting the assignment.

Six Lives Were Lost

The crash killed:

  • Asherey Ryan, 23, who was more than eight months pregnant
  • Ryan’s unborn child, Armani
  • Ryan’s 11-month-old son, Alonzo
  • Ryan’s boyfriend, Reynold Lester
  • Nathesia Lewis
  • Lynette Noble

Several other people were also injured in the collision.

The loss was particularly devastating for Ryan’s family. In a matter of seconds, multiple members of one family—including a mother, infant and unborn child—were killed.

Prosecutors Said the Crash Was Not an Accident

One of the central questions at trial was whether Linton was conscious and responsible for her actions immediately before the collision.

Linton’s defense argued that she experienced a seizure while driving and therefore could not control the vehicle.

Prosecutors disputed that explanation.

According to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, prosecutors presented evidence they said showed that Linton continued steering the vehicle as it accelerated toward the intersection. The prosecution argued that her actions were inconsistent with the defense’s explanation that a seizure caused her to lose control.

Ultimately, the jury rejected the defense’s argument and convicted Linton of all six counts of second-degree murder.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said following the verdict that the jury determined the collision was not simply an accident. Prosecutors characterized Linton’s decision to accelerate through the intersection at extreme speed as showing a disregard for the lives of others.

The Role of Mental Health Was Also Raised During the Trial

Another significant aspect of the case involved Linton’s documented mental health history.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence concerning a previous bipolar disorder diagnosis and alleged that Linton had not been taking prescribed medication around the time of the crash. Her defense, however, maintained that a seizure—not anger, intentional conduct or a psychiatric episode—caused her to lose control of the vehicle.

These competing explanations became an important part of the trial.

It is important, however, not to generalize this case to people living with bipolar disorder or other mental health conditions. A diagnosis by itself does not mean that someone is violent or dangerous. The jury’s decision concerned the specific evidence and circumstances presented in Linton’s case.

Why Was She Charged With Murder Instead of Vehicular Manslaughter?

This is one of the most striking aspects of the case.

Fatal crashes are not automatically prosecuted as murder. Prosecutors must establish the legal elements required for the particular charge.

Linton was originally charged with six counts of murder as well as five counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Before trial, prosecutors elected to proceed with the murder charges, and the jury ultimately convicted her of six counts of second-degree murder.

The prosecution argued that the extreme speed, her actions leading up to the collision and other evidence demonstrated the level of conscious disregard for human life necessary to support the murder charges.

The jury agreed.

A Nursing Career Connected to a Tragic Story

For the nursing community, this story may feel particularly unsettling because Linton was not merely someone who happened to work in healthcare.

She was a registered nurse working a traveling nursing assignment at the time.

Nurses routinely leave work after demanding shifts, emotionally difficult situations and conflicts in the workplace. Most of those experiences, of course, do not result in anything remotely resembling what occurred in this case.

Still, the tragedy is a sobering reminder that what happens during a shift can sometimes follow healthcare workers outside the hospital.

Stress, exhaustion, anger or emotional distress can impair judgment. When someone recognizes that they are too distressed, exhausted or otherwise unable to safely drive, finding another way home—or waiting until they are able to drive safely—can protect both the healthcare worker and everyone else on the road.

What Happens Next?

Linton now faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, her sentencing is scheduled for December 1, 2026, and she faces multiple life sentences.

Although the crash occurred more than four years ago, the October 2026 conviction marks a major development in a case that has continued to affect the victims’ families and the Los Angeles community.

Nothing about the verdict can restore the six lives that were lost.

For the victims’ loved ones, however, the verdict brings the criminal trial closer to its conclusion after years of court proceedings.

Sources

Los Angeles County District Attorney / County of Los Angeles:
Jury Convicts Nurse of Murdering Four Adults, Infant and Unborn Child in 130-MPH Windsor Hills Crash

Los Angeles Times:
Nurse convicted of murder in fatal high-speed South L.A. car wreck

CBS Los Angeles:
Nurse accused of causing Windsor Hills crash that killed 6 found guilty of murder charges

Additional trial reporting:
Jury Handed Case of Nurse Charged With Crash That Killed Six

Editor’s Note: This article discusses a criminal case involving loss of life and mental health evidence presented during a trial. References to mental health conditions reflect evidence and arguments reported from this specific case and should not be interpreted as suggesting that people with mental health conditions are inherently dangerous.

 

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