A big rig descending Angeles Crest Highway lost control at Foothill Boulevard in La Canada Flintridge. A Palmdale man and his daughter were killed. (Los Angeles Times / September 5, 2008) |
PASADENA, Calif. (KTLA) -- Jurors convicted a truck driver of involuntary manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving in a fatal crash that killed a 12-year-old girl and her father.
Marcos Barbosa Costa, 46, was acquitted of second-degree murder in the crash that killed Angel Posca, 58, and his 12-year-old daughter Angelina.
He was found guilty of two counts each of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter.
The jury also found the Massachusetts resident guilty of injuring three people in the April 1, 2009, crash at Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Boulevard.
The 46-year old trucker was hauling cars over the San Gabriel Mountains on April 1, 2009, when his brakes failed on the steep Angeles Crest Highway.
The double-decker big rig ran a red light and slammed into the PoscasÂ’ red Ford, dragging it 150 feet.
The truck struck six more vehicles before slamming into a bookstore and nail salon
Prosecutors claim Costa ignored posted weight warnings and "no trucks" signs on Angeles Crest Highway.
Witnesses testified Costa ignored warnings from an off-duty firefighter who pulled him over and said smoke was billowing from his brakes and warned him the road was worse going down.
After the accident, La Canada Flintridge officials accused the California Department of Transportation of failing to respond to safety concerns about trucks on the road and previous accidents at that intersection.
A couple of days later, Caltrans instituted a 90-day ban on five-axle trucks along Angeles Crest Highway between the Angeles Forest Highway and the 210 Freeway.
The ban was later made permanent.
In March, Costa, a Massachusetts resident and native of Brazil, filed a civil lawsuit against Los Angeles County and the state of California, blaming them for improperly maintaining Angeles Crest Highway.
Marcos Barbosa Costa, 46, was acquitted of second-degree murder in the crash that killed Angel Posca, 58, and his 12-year-old daughter Angelina.
He was found guilty of two counts each of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter.
The jury also found the Massachusetts resident guilty of injuring three people in the April 1, 2009, crash at Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Boulevard.
The 46-year old trucker was hauling cars over the San Gabriel Mountains on April 1, 2009, when his brakes failed on the steep Angeles Crest Highway.
The double-decker big rig ran a red light and slammed into the PoscasÂ’ red Ford, dragging it 150 feet.
The truck struck six more vehicles before slamming into a bookstore and nail salon
Prosecutors claim Costa ignored posted weight warnings and "no trucks" signs on Angeles Crest Highway.
Witnesses testified Costa ignored warnings from an off-duty firefighter who pulled him over and said smoke was billowing from his brakes and warned him the road was worse going down.
After the accident, La Canada Flintridge officials accused the California Department of Transportation of failing to respond to safety concerns about trucks on the road and previous accidents at that intersection.
A couple of days later, Caltrans instituted a 90-day ban on five-axle trucks along Angeles Crest Highway between the Angeles Forest Highway and the 210 Freeway.
The ban was later made permanent.
In March, Costa, a Massachusetts resident and native of Brazil, filed a civil lawsuit against Los Angeles County and the state of California, blaming them for improperly maintaining Angeles Crest Highway.
