An 80-year-old California woman will spend no time in jail for crashing into a family of four waiting at a bus stop on their way to the zoo. Mary Fong Lau was sentenced to two years of probation and her driver’s license suspended for three years by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Bruce Chan on Friday.
Lau pleaded no contest to four counts of vehicular manslaughter for the 2015 deaths of Diego Cardoso de Oliveira (40), Matilde Moncado Ramos Pinto (38), and their two young children, an infant and a toddler.
The Tragic Incident
The crash happened on May 1, 2015, when the family was waiting for a bus near the West Portal Muni station in San Francisco. Lau, driving her Mercedes SUV, struck and killed all four family members. The family was on their way to the zoo.
Witnesses reported that Lau was driving 70 mph in a neighborhood, far above the speed limit.
Lau’s Explanation and Sentencing Factors
Lau initially told witnesses that she had tried to brake but accidentally pressed the gas pedal instead. Later, she claimed that a vehicle malfunction caused the car to accelerate uncontrollably, and she couldn’t stop it.
Judge Chan considered Lau’s age, her lack of criminal history, and her remorse in the decision to avoid jail time. However, the victims’ family felt the punishment was not harsh enough given the severity of the tragedy.
Victims’ Family Response
The family of the victims expressed disappointment with the sentence. Ramos Pinto’s brother shared his grief, stating, “She was denied the right to continue being a mother.” The victims’ family has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lau, accusing her of concealing her assets.
Next Steps for Lau
While Lau avoided prison, she still faces the wrongful death case in civil court. As per recent California laws, she will be required to serve 85% of her sentence before becoming eligible for release, which means she will face a significant probation period.
