By Sara Beth Williams–
More than three years following a collision on Interstate 80 that left a 2-year-old boy dead, murder charges have been filed against the second driver, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office announced May 8.
The collision occurred in 2022 on I 80 between Citrus Heights and Roseville and all involved parties were from the Citrus Heights area according to local news reports.
The Placer County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday that charges would be sought against 44-year-old Kostas Linardos, who is suspected of causing the crash.
The collision occurred in November of 2022, and Linardos was going “well over the speed limit” in a Ram pickup truck on I 80 near an onramp, according to a Facebook media release by the DA’s Office. The victim’s mother was driving eastbound with her 2-year-old son after dropping off her husband at work. After suffering a tire blowout, the victim pulled her disabled vehicle into the gore point between the freeway lanes, and activated her hazard lights.
Prosecutors say Linardos hit the stopped Volkswagen sedan, resulting in severe injury to the child, who was rushed to a hospital where he later died.
“The defendant entered eastbound Interstate 80 while unlawfully driving in the carpool lane, accelerated well over the speed limit which resulted in a collision with the victim’s stalled car while operating at full throttle,” the Placer County DA’s office stated.
Linardos appeared in Placer County Superior Court and will remain in custody on a second-degree murder charge without bail, according to the DA’s office. Linardos’ next court date is set for May 15.
This case is being prosecuted by the Placer County District Attorney’s Office’s Felony Unit with investigative support from the California Highway Patrol.
