ICU nurse who killed 6 in L.A. crash has ‘profound’ mental health issues and history of accidents

The traveling ICU nurse who killed six people in a horror crash in Los Angeles on Thursday after plowing her Mercedes 90mph through a busy intersection has a ‘profound’  history of mental illness and has been involved in 13 prior crashes, but was still somehow subcontracted to work in a hospital and allowed to drive. 

Nicole Lorraine Linton, 37, is in custody on six murder charges as a result of Thursday’s crash. 

Among those she killed was pregnant Asherey Ryan, 23, her one-year-old son Alonzo and Reynold Lester, the father of Asherey’s unborn baby, who also died. 

On Tuesday, Craig Pitchford was named as another victim. Two other female victims remain unidentified. 

Linton is from Houston, Texas, and was in Los Angeles working as a contractor at the Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Hospital. 

She was working for the nursing contractor group AMN Healthcare, which she joined in October 2020. 

Linton sped through a red light at 90mph, plowing into cars at a busy intersection on August 4th. Six people and one unborn baby were killed

In court yesterday, her attorney said she had a ‘profound’ history of mental health problems. 

He said they would have contributed to the crash, and asked for her arraignment to be delayed until October. 

Craig Pitchford was named by his family as the fourth victim of the crash yesterday

Prosecutors also revealed that Linton was involved in 13 prior road 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 have emerged. 

It remains unclear why Linton was able to work in healthcare, let alone in the ICU, with such extensive mental health problems as her attorney described. 

On Monday, she sobbed in court as she was charged with six counts of murder.

Linton was traveling at speeds of at least 90mph when she sped through a read light and hit crossing vehicles at the busy intersection of La Brea and Slauson Avenues.

Eight-month pregnant Asherey Ryan, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene alongside her one-year-old child Alonzo Luchiano Quintero and her unborn baby boy following the horrible crash.

The unborn child’s father, Renald, was also killed in the crash after the car split in half immediately on impact, those close to the family confirmed.

Graphic shows the direction the SUV was going in along South La Brea Avenue when it ran the red light and caused the horrendous crash

PICTURED: Asherey Ryan, 23, died in the fiery crash with her one-year-old child and her unborn child. Tributes have poured in for the mother, who was expecting another child this year

One-year-old baby boy Alonzo (pictured) was also killed in the horrific collision between South La Brea Avenue and Slauson Avenue on Thursday afternoon

The father of the unborn child Reynold (right) also died in the deadly crash. He is pictured with Asherey 

The shocking footage, taken from a gas station overlooking the scene, starts as the Mercedes coupe races past the pumps at blistering pace 

The doomed vehicle fails to break as it bears down on the traffic flowing both ways across the packed intersection

Asherey, Renald, and little Alonzo were on their way to a doctor’s appointment for a pregnancy check-up when Linton smashed into the car they were traveling in.

PICUTED: Nicole L. Linton, 37, is being held on a $9million bond following the fatal car crash in Los Angeles

‘A young family was destroyed in the blink of an eye,’ Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón said Monday.

‘There’s catastrophic damage to the families and friends of those killed and injured.

‘It’s not only a tremendous loss to their families, but to our entire community, who learned of this incredible tragedy who watched the now viral video of the collision.’ 

Pitchford, the fifth victim, was named by his family. 

In a GoFundMe page yesterday, they said: ‘On August 4th, 2022, we tragically lost Craig Pitchford, beloved Father, Grandfather and friend. Craig was one of the victims who lost their lives in the horrific crash at Slauson and La Brea.  

‘We are raising funds for his burial service, as there isn’t any insurance in place. We appreciate any donation you feel touched to give.’

Graphic shows the direction the SUV was going in along South La Brea Avenue when it ran the red light and caused the horrendous crash

Two other women remain unidentified. No one from Linton’s family has yet spoken out.