Two murder counts in ACH runaway crash

Two counts of murder have been filed against the driver of the runaway big rig that killed two people and injured a dozen others in La Canada Flintridge April 1.

A Los Angeles County grand jury returned an indictment against big rig driver Marcos Costa on June 11; the decision was unsealed on Friday after Costa was arraigned in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He is being held on $2.09 million bail.

According to reports, Costa pleaded not guilty to all charges including the two counts of murder, that had been added to the allegations of vehicle manslaughter and reckless driving that had been filed on April 3.

Costa drove his big rig car carrier from Antelope Valley (14) Freeway over Angeles National Forest Highway and Angeles Crest Highway, losing his breaks as he approached Foothill Boulevard.

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 their vehicle to Foothill Boulevard, killing both victim. Costa then hit other vehicles which started a chain reaction of crashes with the big rig ended plowing through Flintridge Bookstore and Coffee House.

Costa was originally arrested shortly after the crash and had been released on bail until Friday morning when he was rearrested outside the Pasadena Superior Court where he was scheduled to appear.

In a statement made outside the courthouse, Costa’s attorney Steve Meister said prosecutors are confusing tragedy with murder. “This is an inappropriate, excessive charge,” he said of the addition of two murder charges. “It shouldn’t be a murder case.”

According to reports, if Costa is convicted of the charges he would face up to life in prison with the possibility of parole. His next scheduled court date is June 24.