An 80-year-old San Francisco woman who killed a family of four while allegedly speeding the wrong way down a residential street is unlikely to face prison time, a judge indicated Friday after she changed her plea in court.
Mary Fong Lau entered a no contest plea to four felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter in connection with the March 2024 crash that devastated a family waiting at a West Portal bus stop.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Bruce Chan described the loss of life as “incomprehensible,” but suggested he would not impose a prison sentence. He cited Lau’s advanced age, lack of prior criminal history, and apparent remorse, noting that incarceration would effectively amount to “sentencing her to die within the state prison system.”
Prosecutors said Lau’s Mercedes SUV plowed into a transit shelter near the West Portal Branch Library at speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour. The family had been waiting for transportation to the San Francisco Zoo.
Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, 40, and his 1-year-old son, Joaquim Ramos Pinto de Oliveira, died at the scene. Matilde Moncada Ramos Pinto, 38, and 3-month-old Cauê Ramos Pinto de Oliveira were critically injured and later died in the hospital.
Under a no contest plea, a defendant does not formally admit guilt but accepts conviction and waives the right to a trial.
Judge Chan said his role required balancing the gravity of the deaths with other factors, including Lau’s age, her remorse, and the fact that her husband had previously died in a car accident early in their marriage. According to court accounts, Lau told medical staff after the crash that she wished she could trade places with the victims.
“Mrs. Lau is going to spend the rest of her days living with the knowledge of the harm she has caused to others,” Chan said in court.
The judge indicated the likely sentence would be two to three years of probation, along with a permanent ban on driving.
Family members of the victims expressed anger and frustration at the potential outcome. Denise Oliveira, the sister of Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, said in court, “It feels like we have no rights. I feel deeply disrespected by this process. It doesn’t feel like this is justice.”
In addition to the criminal case, surviving relatives have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lau. Attorneys for the family allege that Lau transferred and sold millions of dollars in assets in an attempt to shield them from potential civil judgments.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Rebecca Coll said in a statement that the lawsuit “exposes an intentional scheme by Ms. Lau to place assets beyond the reach of grieving families seeking justice” and reflects “an unwillingness by Ms. Lau to take accountability for her actions.”
A formal sentencing decision is expected at a later hearing.
