Murder Trial: Truck Driver Describes 'How It Felt to Kill Two People'

After three days of testifying in his murder trial, a truck driver charged with killing two people broke down Monday when recounting the big-rig accident that left a 12-year-old girl and her father dead.

“I wish it had been me. I didn’t want to take the life of anyone else,’’ said a tearful Marcos Costa, the first time he’s shown emotion since taking the witness stand Thursday. The 46-year-old Boston resident, and pastor of 20 years, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, felony reckless driving and vehicular manslaughter stemming from the Apr. 1, 2009, accident at Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Boulevard.

Brazilian-born Costa testified through a Portuguese translator that when his 25-ton, car-carrying truck barreled down the steep Crest, his brakes having failed a mile behind him, he saw the face of a driver in a red Ford sedan.

“I was looking at him. He was desperate; same as me. I saw him, and then I didn’t see anything else,’’ Costa said of Palmdale-resident Angel Posca, who, along with his daughter, Angelina, died instantly when the 18-wheel vehicle plowed into their car, before coming to rest inside the old .

Miles north of that store, off-duty Los Angeles firefighter Juan Palomino saw smoke billowing from the back of Costa’s truck, Palomino has testified earlier. Palomino flagged down the rig on Angeles Forest Highway and told Costa, the passenger at that point in the mountainous route from the Palmdale area, and driver Jose Soares, that their over-sized vehicle would not fit through an upcoming tunnel.

Testimony revealed Palomino warned the men that the grade only got steeper and more dangerous in front of them. Costa and Soares, neither native English speakers, had difficulty understanding Palomino 100 percent, so the firefighter drew them a map, depicting a non-tunnel approach.

Costa switched seats with Soares, followed the map, and a short time later, Costa testified, a red light flashed on his dash board, the horn blew, and the brakes began to fail. He pushed on the brakes with all his strength, he said, but the hulking rig only gained speed as it raced uncontrollably down the mountain.

Deputy District Attorney Carolina Lugo is expected to cross-examine Costa today, Tuesday. Lugo has told the 10-man, two-woman jury that even after the firefighter’s warning about the trecherous grade and winding, narrow road that lay ahead, Costa did not turn back. This constitutes a wanton disregard for life, she pointed out in opening statements.

On Monday, as the Poscas’ friends and relatives cried on one side of the courtroom, and Costa’s wife, Ester, sat on the other side, red-eyed with her hand over her mouth, defense attorney Edward Murphy asked his client how it felt to kill Angel and Angelina. Lugo objected to the phraseology, but after some re-wording, Costa was allowed to answer.

Costa’s lip quivered, he clasped his hands and said, “I didn’t want to take the life of everybody [sic] else. I have big regrets in my heart that someone got hurt.’’ he said.

Check back on LCF Patch for continued trial coverage.