Remedies underway

Following an onslaught of accusations and concerns stemming from big rig accident on April 1 that claimed the lives of a father and his young daughter, and sent seven people to hospitals, new signs have been posted on Angeles National Forest, Angeles Crest Highway and the Foothill (210) Freeway, warning of the steep grade and restricting five axle trucks.

The big rig truck involved in the accident had taken the route from the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway over the Angeles National Forest Highway and ACH. As it approached Foothill Boulevard, it apparently lost its brakes. The investigation is still ongoing as to the exact cause of the accident, but it is known the truck barreled down the ’Crest, out of control.

Angel Posca, 58, and his 12-year-old daughter Angelina, both from Palmdale, had just exited eastbound from the Foothill (210) Freeway and started to turn left onto the ’Crest when the truck struck them and dragged them to Foothill Boulevard.

The big rig, driven by Marcos Costa, 43, from Massachusetts hit five cars before plowing into the Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse.

During a city council meeting Monday night, Mayor Laura Olhasso said the victims who survived the crash are on the mend. Sgt. Mark Slater, the traffic-investigating officer at Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station said he is not releasing the conditions of the victims, but did provide some information on those transported to local hospitals.

According to Slater, a husband, his wife and two children from Tarzana were in the gray Toyota 4-Runner. The driver of the green Toyota Highlander was a woman from Alhambra, the gray Ford Escape was driven by a 17-year-old girl from La Cañada, the driver of the black Pontiac was a woman from La Crescenta and the driver of the gray Acura was a woman from La Cañada.

The truck driver, Costa, did not report any injuries but his passenger reported “very minor” injuries. A woman from Baldwin Park and a woman from El Monte that were in the nail salon at the time of the crash were also injured when the truck plowed through the bookstore, collapsing a shared wall.