The driver of a truck that crashed in the city of La Canada Flintridge, California, killing two people, has been sentenced to seven years in prison. In April 2009, Marcos Costa was driving a 25-ton commercial truck carrying automobiles when his truck went out of control. The brakes had failed as the truck came down through the Angeles Crest Highway and into a busy La Canada Flintridge intersection.
The out-of-control truck crashed into several cars, including one occupied by a 12-year-old girl and her father. Both of them were killed in the accident. Several other people were injured as the 18-wheeler crashed into other vehicles and came to a stop inside a building.
Earlier this month, Marcos Costa was sentenced to seven years and four months in state prison. During trial, authorities blamed the crash on Costa’s decision to use Angeles Crest Highway, a steep and winding mountain road, to get to Los Angeles, instead of using the freeway. He had been warned that the Angeles Crest Highway was too dangerous for his truck, but did not heed those warnings. As he was traveling down the highway, his brakes began to smoke, and even then, Costa did not stop. He simply poured water on the brakes, hoping to cool them down.
The role of Angeles Crest Highway, a treacherous stretch of road that has been the scene of several accidents also came out at the trial. Los Angeles truck accident lawyers have also found that this stretch of road has been the scene of several accidents. Defense lawyers for Costa also blamed the California Department of Transportation for failing to respond to safety concerns that had been raised about accidents involving commercial trucks at that intersection.
