Nicole Linton's murder trial opened Tuesday, Sept. 8, in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Prosecutors and her defense attorney offered competing explanations for the 130-mph crash that killed six people at Slauson and La Brea avenues in Windsor Hills.

Linton, a former traveling nurse, faces six counts of murder for the Aug. 4, 2022, collision. She has pleaded not guilty. If convicted on all counts, she faces 90 years to life in state prison.

Deputy District Attorney Brittany Vannoy told jurors that vehicle data showed Linton was traveling about 122 mph five seconds before impact. She accelerated to roughly 130 mph at the point of collision, according to LA Mag. The Mercedes never braked or swerved. The posted speed limit is 35 mph.

"The defendant had plenty of time to stop, to brake, to swerve," Vannoy said during opening statements. "But instead she floored that gas pedal to 131 mph, ignored that red light, and barreled toward that intersection, killing six people."

The traffic light had been red for about 15 seconds before Linton entered the intersection, prosecutors said. Data from the vehicle's Airbag Control Module showed the Mercedes maintained precise steering along the road's curvature, Fox LA reported. Prosecutors dropped five vehicular manslaughter charges last month, leaving only the six murder counts.

Prosecutors alleged Linton left her job at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center that afternoon frustrated and intending to quit. They said she channeled that frustration into her driving. They also introduced a 2020 writing attributed to Linton titled "Bitter F---ing Nurse," which discussed career and life frustrations.

The defense countered that the document was written years earlier while Linton lived in North Carolina and had no connection to the 2022 crash.

Defense attorney Jovan Blacknell argued Linton suffered a seizure at the wheel and lost control. He told jurors there was no evidence she was intoxicated, using her phone, racing another driver or fighting with anyone at the time. A neurologist hired by the defense said Linton had a history of frontal-lobe seizures that caused bizarre behaviors, the New York Post reported.

Blacknell is not pursuing an insanity defense. Linton had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and hospitalized twice for mental health issues. Evidence from earlier proceedings showed she had been prescribed lithium and lorazepam but reported not taking medication for years.

Before the crash, Linton spoke with her sister and made statements about marrying actor Will Smith and picking up her niece from school. Her sister lives in Philadelphia. Her niece attends college in Hawaii.

Prosecutors countered that a psychiatric evaluation showed no indication Linton suffered a seizure. Doctors who treated her after the crash previously testified that testing did not show seizure evidence either.

The six people killed were Asherey Ryan, 23, who was 8½ months pregnant; her boyfriend Reynold Lester, 24; their 11-month-old son Alonzo Quintero; Ryan's unborn son Armani Lester; Nathesia Lewis, 43; and Lynette Noble, 38. Ryan, Lester and Alonzo were in a Jaguar on the way to Ryan's final prenatal appointment, NBC Los Angeles reported.

A California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigator said the collision split the Jaguar in half. Nine people total were injured. The crash involved nine vehicles.

During opening statements, prosecutors played surveillance video of the collision. Family members fled the courtroom in tears. At least one juror appeared visibly distraught.

Linton cried at points during the presentation. Cameras were not allowed inside the courtroom.

Family spokesperson Najee Ali said outside court on Sept. 8 that the community of Windsor Hills remains traumatized more than four years later. Community members and victim advocates refer to the six killed as the "Slauson Six," the Atlanta Black Star reported.

Linton remains held without bail. The trial is expected to last at least six weeks.