Outrage over light sentence for driver who killed family at SF bus stop

80-year-old Mary Fong Lau received 2 years probation after pleading no contest to vehicular manslaughter charges.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:11pm by Ben Kaplan

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An 80-year-old driver named Mary Fong Lau was sentenced to just 2 years probation and a 3-year suspended license after pleading no contest to charges of vehicular manslaughter. Lau had plowed her Mercedes into a San Francisco bus stop in 2024, killing a young family of four - Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, his wife Matilde Ramos, and their two infant children Joaquim and Cauê. The light sentence has sparked outrage from the victims' family and the public, who argue it does not match the scale of the tragedy.

Why it matters

This case has raised concerns about the justice system's treatment of elderly drivers involved in fatal crashes, as well as broader questions about accountability and sentencing for vehicular homicide crimes. The light punishment given to Lau despite the devastating loss of life has left many feeling the justice system failed the victims' family.

The details

Lau was originally charged with four counts of vehicular manslaughter, each punishable by up to 15 years to life in prison. However, she was able to plead no contest, leading the judge to cite her advanced age, lack of criminal record, and expressions of remorse in handing down the probation sentence. Prosecutors had alleged Lau was speeding at over 70 mph in the residential neighborhood when she struck the family waiting at the bus stop.

  • The fatal crash occurred in March 2024.
  • Lau was sentenced on Friday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Mary Fong Lau

An 80-year-old driver who pleaded no contest to charges of vehicular manslaughter after killing a family of four at a San Francisco bus stop in 2024.

Diego Cardoso de Oliveira

A 35-year-old executive at Apple who was killed along with his wife and two infant children when Lau plowed into them at a bus stop.

Matilde Ramos

The wife of Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, who was killed along with her husband and two children in the 2024 crash.

Joaquim

The 1-year-old son of Diego and Matilde, who was killed in the crash.

Cauê

The 2-month-old son of Diego and Matilde, who was killed in the crash.

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What they’re saying

“I want to say to all the family, sorry. Sorry.”

— Mary Fong Lau

“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.”

— Olivera's sister

What’s next

The case has sparked outrage and calls for harsher sentencing in vehicular homicide cases, particularly those involving elderly drivers. It remains to be seen if the light sentence given to Lau will lead to any changes in California's laws or sentencing guidelines.

The takeaway

This tragic case has exposed deep flaws in how the justice system handles fatal crashes caused by elderly drivers. The minimal punishment given to Lau, despite the devastating loss of an entire young family, has left many questioning whether the system adequately values the lives lost and provides true accountability for such devastating crimes.