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2 Years After the Tragic Crash

Costa Acquitted of Murder,
Charged with Manslaughter

By OSCAR ARELIZ
The Outlook

For more than 20 months, the Posca family has relived the tragic death of 12-year-old Angelina Posca and her 58-year-old father, Angel, in a Pasadena courtroom.

The fate of the big-rig truck driver who took their lives in the accident on the corner of Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Boulevard will soon be determined. Marcos Costa was convicted of two counts of vehicular manslaughter and three counts of reckless driving, but acquitted of two second-degree murder charges for driving his outof- control truck into several vehicles on April 1, 2009.

“It was difficult,” said George Posca, the 31-year-old son of Angel and brother to Angelina. “Some of us were really following it, but it’s hard because it brings up past emotions; some of us blocked that out.”

“It’s been two-and-a-half years now and I still can’t believe my baby is gone,” said Yanette Sofia Posca, mother of Angelina, as she spoke to reporters outside the courtroom. “Time has stood still for me since April 2009. I’m still caught on April 1.”

Costa, 48, was released on $340,000 bail and faces a maximum sentence of 9 years in prison. The Brazilian native is eligible for parole, having already spent 20 months in jail. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 8. “Regarding the verdict, I’m happy it’s coming to a close,” George Posca said. “But I think this guy deserves a little more than what’s happening to him. Okay, it’s not murder; but I don’t want him to get a slap on the wrist like probation.”

Prosecuting attorney Carolina Lugo argued that Costa, a Massachusetts resident, ignored warning signs of the truck’s brakes failing, and she mentioned him being flagged down by an off-duty firefighter before the crash.

“At the end of the day, we are glad that there is some accountability to the deaths of both Angelina and Angel,” Lugo told reporters outside of the courtroom.

Costa was hauling cars in an 18- wheel big-rig truck on Angeles Crest Highway on April 1, 2009. As he drove down the steep road, the truck’s brakes failed and the big rig gained speed and momentum before colliding with Posca’s Ford sedan.

Caltrans has since banned trucks with three axles or greater from driving on Angeles Crest Highway.

“I do feel the state is partially at fault for road conditions, but mainly it’s [Costa’s] fault,” George Posca said. “He should have stopped that [truck].”

An emotional Yanette stood outside the courtroom and showed reporters a T-shirt with a picture of her daughter on it.

“The loss of my daughter has been incredibly damaging to me [and] my whole family,” she told reporters.

“She had a bright future in front of her. She was such a talented little girl.”

Yanette also showed sympathy for Costas’ family. “Whatever the verdict would have been, it’s not going to bring them back,” she said. “I feel bad for his family, that they have to go through this. Now there’s two families that are going to be tormented because [of] this man. Whatever punishment he’s going to be given, he’s going to have to carry this for the rest of his life.”