Driver Avoids Jail Time After Killing Family of 4 in West Portal Crash

80-year-old Mary Fong Lau sentenced to probation for 2024 incident that killed a family at a bus stop

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:57am by Ben Kaplan

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The driver accused of killing a family of four when she crashed into a West Portal bus stop in 2024 has been sentenced to two years of probation after changing her plea to no contest. Mary Fong Lau, 80, faced four vehicular manslaughter charges but will avoid jail time due to her age and lack of criminal record, according to the judge.

Why it matters

The lenient sentencing has sparked outrage in the community, with a petition opposing Lau's plea deal and probation sentence garnering over 13,000 signatures. The fatal crash has also prompted civil lawsuits from the victims' family members and calls for safety upgrades in the area where the incident occurred.

The details

Lau was accused of speeding at 70 miles per hour down the residential area near Ulloa Street and Lenox Way on March 16, 2024, when she crashed into a bus stop, killing Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, Matilde Ramos Pinto, their 1-year-old son Joaquim, and 3-month-old Caue Ramos Pinto de Oliveira. The family was reportedly on their way to the San Francisco Zoo when the tragedy occurred.

  • On March 16, 2024, Lau crashed into a bus stop, killing a family of four.
  • On February 13, 2026, Lau changed her plea from not guilty to no contest.
  • On March 21, 2026, Lau was sentenced to two years of probation.

The players

Mary Fong Lau

An 80-year-old driver who was accused of killing a family of four in a 2024 crash in West Portal, San Francisco.

Diego Cardoso de Oliveira

One of the victims killed in the 2024 West Portal crash, along with his wife and two young sons.

Matilde Ramos Pinto

One of the victims killed in the 2024 West Portal crash, along with her husband and two young sons.

Joaquim

The 1-year-old son of Diego Cardoso de Oliveira and Matilde Ramos Pinto, who was killed in the 2024 West Portal crash.

Caue Ramos Pinto de Oliveira

The 3-month-old son of Diego Cardoso de Oliveira and Matilde Ramos Pinto, who was killed in the 2024 West Portal crash.

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What they’re saying

“'Mrs. Lau is going to spend the rest of her days living with the knowledge of the harm she has caused to others.'”

— Bruce Chan, San Francisco Superior Court Judge

“'The consequences that are being proposed for her actions are not a true match for the size of the tragedy.'”

— Denise Olivera, Sister of Diego Cardoso de Oliveira

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Lau to keep her driver's license for the duration of her probation.

The takeaway

This case has sparked outrage in the community over the perceived leniency of the sentence, raising questions about accountability for fatal crashes and the need for stricter penalties, especially for older drivers, to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.