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L.A. nurse who slammed speeding Mercedes into cars, killing 5, arrested by CHP

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Noah Goldberg, Richard Winton, Nathan Solis, Jonah Valdez, Gregory Yee
·6 min read

A registered nurse has been arrested and will be booked on vehicular manslaughter charges in the fiery Windsor Hills crash that killed five people, including a pregnant woman, law enforcement sources confirmed to The Times on Friday.

Investigators have arrested Nicole Linton, 37, who they said was driving the speeding Mercedes-Benz that smashed through traffic at the intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues. Linton is currently in the hospital and is cooperating with California Highway Patrol investigators, sources said.

The news of her arrest came as the medical examiner released the name of the pregnant woman who died, Asherey Ryan, 23.

People light candles at a makeshift memorial across the street from where a fiery multi-car crash left five dead.
From left, Carmen Dorsey and London Carter pray as Vera Jones lights a candle at a memorial near the scene of Thursday's fiery car crash in Windsor Hills. Five people were killed, including a pregnant woman. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Ryan, 8 1/2 months pregnant, was with her boyfriend on her way to a doctor's appointment when the Mercedes crashed into their car. She and her boyfriend died, as did their 1-year-old baby and Ryan's unborn child, according to Ryan's sister. The county coroner has not yet released official identifications of anyone besides Ryan.

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"I already cried. I cried. I didnt sleep one bit. I'm all cried out," Sha'seana Kerr, who identified herself as Ryan's sister, said on Instagram. "We have to bury four people."

When Kerr saw the video of the crash shortly after it happened, she knew something was not right.

"As soon as I see that video, it hit home, it hit different. I felt connected," she posted. "Her taking my sister my nephews my brother in law. She took my son's only cousin. We are so deeply hurt."

CHP and first responders investigate a fiery crash where multiple people were killed near a Windsor Hills gas station.
California Highway Patrol officers and first responders investigate a crash in which multiple people were killed near a Windsor Hills gas station Thursday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Authorities are checking Linton's bloodwork to determine if she was under the influence at the time of the crash, according to two law enforcement sources.

She is to be formally charged by the Los Angeles County district attorney on Monday. A family member of Linton's declined to speak to a Times reporter on Friday.

Linton is likely to be charged with killing the unborn child as well as the five others.

Eight people were also injured in the crash.

Surveillance video shows a Mercedes-Benz barreling down La Brea at a high speed as dozens of cars cross the intersection on Slauson. The Mercedes runs a red light and slams into cars in the intersection, then bursts into flames and hurtles into a light pole, where it comes to rest.

After the crash, a streak of fire burned on the ground.

Cotie Davis, 20, sister of Windsor Hills crash victim, Asherey Ryan talks about the loss of her sister.
Cotie Davis, 20, sister of Windsor Hills crash victim, Asherey Ryan, 23, 8 months pregnant, who was killed, along with her son Alonzo, almost 1, talks about the loss of her sister. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)

Smoke could be seen billowing from miles away.

Officer Franco Pepi, a California Highway Patrol spokesperson, said Thursday afternoon that three adults, including a pregnant woman, and an infant were killed in the crash.

Authorities later found another person's remains inside one of the burned vehicles, he said. That person's gender or age weren't known Thursday night.

Authorities took eight people to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center for treatment, he said. Of those injured, six were teens and one suffered major injuries.