Full Breakdown
Jury Convicts Nurse Nicole Linton of Second-Degree Murder in 2022 Windsor Hills Crash
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The Verdict and Core Facts
A Los Angeles jury found Nicole Lorraine Linton guilty of six counts of second-degree murder for the August 2022 collision at Slauson and La Brea avenues in Windsor Hills. The crash killed six people—including a pregnant woman, her unborn child, her 11-month-old son, the woman’s boyfriend, and two occupants of another vehicle. Jurors deliberated for roughly three hours before delivering the verdict.
Background & Context
Linton, a traveling registered nurse employed by Kaiser Permanent West Los Angeles Medical Center, left her shift on the afternoon of the crash and drove a Mercedes-Benz sedan toward the intersection. Prosecutors highlighted a recent history of bipolar disorder, missed medication, and prior aggressive incidents, arguing she entered the vehicle “with fury” and deliberately accelerated through a red light. The defense claimed Linton suffered a seizure just before impact, rendering her unable to control the vehicle.
Timeline
- August 2022 – Linton’s Mercedes entered the intersection at high speed, striking multiple vehicles and igniting a fire.
- Late 2025 – early 2026 – Trial proceedings, including opening statements, expert testimony, and closing arguments.
- October 2, 2026 – Jury announces guilty verdict.
Data & Statistics
- Speed: Electronic data recorder indicated a peak speed of roughly 130 mph; prosecutors described it as “more than 100 mph” in a 35-mph zone.
- Red-light duration: The signal was red for 15 seconds before the collision.
- Casualties: Six fatalities (including an unborn child) and eight injuries; nine vehicles were involved.
- Legal charges: Six counts of second-degree murder; earlier vehicular-manslaughter charges were dismissed.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutors emphasized Linton’s conscious control of the vehicle and cited her bipolar diagnosis, missed medication, and prior high-speed incidents. Defense attorney Jovan Blacknell argued that a “focal seizure” could have caused leg stiffness and rapid pedal depression, citing neurologist testimony.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, following the verdict, called for studies and immediate traffic-safety measures at the intersection.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact speed at impact: some say “about 130 mph,” others “more than 100 mph.” Prosecutors state Linton has “no history of seizures,” while the defense presents expert testimony that a seizure could have occurred despite the lack of prior diagnosis. No definitive forensic evidence confirming a seizure was presented, leaving the medical question unresolved.
Why It Matters
The case highlights the intersection of mental-health issues, driver behavior, and public safety. Officials have indicated plans to reevaluate traffic-signal timing and enforcement at the La Brea–Slauson junction to reduce the likelihood of similar high-speed collisions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They didn’t lose their lives. They were killed. In a completely preventable act. The only person who could have prevented this is Nicole Linton,” — Dist. Atty. Antonella Nistorescu
- “If she is conscious, if she is aware, heading into this intersection ... maintaining a straight trajectory so as to aim directly through and cut through a crowded intersection, there is no question that she’s guilty,” — Dist. Atty. Antonella Nistorescu
- “She did not know she was going to have a seizure. She did not wish to have a seizure ... but that occurred,” — Jovan Blacknell
- “She did it knowingly and, most importantly, she was conscious,” — Dist. Atty. Antonella Nistorescu
What’s Next
Linton faces sentencing in the coming weeks, where she could receive multiple life sentences. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to release recommendations for traffic-safety improvements at the crash site.