Windsor Hills crash: Tears flow from suspect's eyes during first court appearance
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón on Monday announced murder charges against Nicole Lorraine Linton, the 37-year-old nurse from Houston who police say ran a red light and plowed her speeding Mercedes through a busy intersection in Windsor Hills causing a deadly crash.
Six people were killed in the violent wreck at the intersection of S. La Brea Avenue and Slauson Avenue. Among those killed was 23-year-old Asheray Ryan, her infant son Alonzo, her unborn son and the father of that unborn child, as well as two others. Gascón said his office cannot file the manslaughter charge in the case involving the unborn child.
The DA said the case was still under investigation and wouldn't discuss all the details, but when asked if Linton was driving under the influence Gascón said, "There is no evidence of any alcohol use at this point."
At the site of the crash on S. La Brea and Slauson, a makeshift memorial continues to grow.
"I was on that street there," Latricia Tucker said, adding it happened, "right in front of my face."
Tucker says last Thursday she saw the speeding car and watched in shock as Linton crashed into two cars. One burst into flames. Had Tucker not stopped for a salad before getting to the intersection she believes she could have been killed.
Gascón says his office's "... preliminary investigation shows that Linton may have been traveling at approximately 90 miles an hour when she ran through a solid red light."
Linton was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter as soon as she got out of the hospital last week. Jail records show she was held on a $9 million bail at the Century Regional Detention facility that was initially set at $2 million.
During her first court appearance on Monday, tears could be seen rolling down Linton's face. The suspect behind the wheel of the deadly crash was in a wheelchair with a brace on her arm due to injuries she sustained during the crash. This comes just days after she was treated at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
If convicted as charged, Linton faces up to 90 years to life in prison. She was not given bail at her hearing, so her next court date will involve a bail review. Linton will be back in front of a judge on August 15, then her arraignment will resume on October 26.
Tragedy strikes on Thursday afternoon: ‘It looks like a war zone'
On the afternoon of Aug. 4, crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were called to the intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues on what was initially reported as a fire. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they discovered the horrific eight-vehicle crash.
Surveillance video that captured the fiery collision shows the driver of a Mercedes-Benz speeding through the intersection at what investigators estimate to be 90 mph. In addition, Linton did not appear to brake, authorities said.
Upon impact, Linton’s Mercedes-Benz and two other vehicles erupted into flames. The violent wreck came to a stop at the southwest corner of the intersection, where at least one vehicle struck a gas station sign.
Bystanders tried to help those trapped but couldn't get close enough.
"The worst thing is we can help nobody because the fire was out of control," a witness told FOX 11.
Images from SkyFOX showed at least two burned vehicles, one of which split in half after crashing into a pole.
One CHP officer described the crash scene to reporters on Thursday afternoon.
"It almost looks like a war zone," he said.
"It was just really bad. It was just really, really graphic, really gruesome with people everywhere screaming," a witness told FOX 11.
What we know about the victims
The pregnant woman killed in the crash was identified by the Los Angeles County coroner's office as Asherey Ryan, 23, of Los Angeles. Her unborn child, listed by the coroner's office as "baby boy Ryan," was also counted among the deceased. Family members told FOX 11 that Ryan's infant son, Alonzo Quintero, was also killed. Ryan’s family also identified Asherey’s boyfriend, 23-year-old Reynold Lester, as a victim of the crash. He worked as a security guard and was reportedly driving his family to Ryan's appointment.
Asherey Ryan and her unborn child were killed in a fiery crash in Windsor Hills that left six people dead. Her infant son was also killed. (Photos provided by family) (FOX 11)
Ryan, who was eight and half months pregnant, was reportedly on her way to a prenatal appointment.
As the community awaits official word on the unidentified victims, those attending the Aug. 10 memorial told FOX 11 that two friends, Nathesia Lewis and Lynette Noble, were also among the deceased.
The California Highway Patrol reported a sixth victim was later found dead in the burned wreckage inside one of the vehicles.
An additional eight people were injured in the crash, including six minors and two adults, ranging in age from one to 33 years old. All the surviving victims were taken to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center where seven of the surviving victims were triaged, and one victim was admitted in fair condition, officials said.