An 80-year-old California woman who struck and killed a family of four waiting at a bus stop has received probation instead of jail time. Mary Fong Lau pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter charges for the deaths of Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, Matilde Moncado Ramos Pinto, and their two young children. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Bruce Chan cited her age and lack of criminal history in the sentencing.
On March 16, 2024, Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, 40, his wife Matilde Moncado Ramos Pinto, 38, and their infant and toddler were waiting at a bus stop near the West Portal Muni station in San Francisco, heading to the zoo to celebrate their anniversary. Mary Fong Lau, 80, driving a Mercedes SUV at about 70 mph, crashed into them, killing all four instantly. Lau pleaded no contest last month to four counts of vehicular manslaughter. On Friday, Judge Bruce Chan sentenced her to two years of probation and a three-year driver's license suspension, sparing her prison time. The judge considered Lau's age, clean record, and remorse, according to reports from KRON. Lau initially told an eyewitness she accidentally pressed the gas instead of the brakes. Later, at the hospital, she claimed a vehicle malfunction caused sudden acceleration, and she unsuccessfully tried to brake and shift into park. The victims' family expressed disappointment. Oliveira's sister said, 'Diego and his family were simply going to the zoo on a Sunday morning, celebrating their anniversary. The consequences … for her actions are not a true match for the size of the tragedy.' Pinto's brother wrote in a victim impact statement, 'She was denied the right to continue being a mother — something she had looked forward to all her life.' Ramos Pinto's brother opposed reduced charges, stating, 'no evidence has been provided that would suggest this isn't gross negligence.' The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lau, accusing her of concealing assets. They are represented by attorney Jim Quadra.
