Driver sentenced in West Portal crash that killed family of four
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Friends and family members posted remembrance notes at a vigil in West Portal honoring the deceased family. Photo: Nadia Lopez/Axios
The driver responsible for killing a family of four at a bus stop in West Portal two years ago was sentenced Friday — closing a case that left a neighborhood and family shattered.
State of play: 80-year-old driver Mary Fong Lau, who pleaded no contest to four counts of felony vehicular manslaughter, was sentenced to two years probation, 200 hours of community service and six days of jail time, per local news reports.
- Family members and a petition with more than 13,000 signatures had called for a harsher sentence, including permanently revoking Lau's license.
- San Francisco Superior Court judge Bruce Chan noted Lau was not texting or under the influence at the time of the crash.
- He argued jail would put her safety at risk and instead ordered her to pay $67,400 in restitution. He also revoked her driver's license for the duration of her probation. She will be eligible to reapply afterwards.
Representatives for Fau and the victims did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Catch up quick: On March 16, 2024, Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, Matilde Moncado Ramos Pinto, and their children, 1-year-old Joaquim and 3-month-old Cauê, were waiting at a bus stop on their way to the zoo when an SUV traveling at around 70mph crashed into them.
- All four died from their injuries.
- Lau's lawyers stated she accidentally confused the brake and gas pedals.
The big picture: The tragedy became a flashpoint amid ongoing concerns over street safety, speeding and enforcement.
- Advocates have pushed for changes in West Portal, including traffic calming measures and stronger safeguards for pedestrians.
Between the lines: At a vigil on Thursday near the West Portal Library, dozens of friends, family members and residents gathered to share heartfelt memories of the victims.
Matilde's brother, Luis Ramos Pinto, said he struggled to make sense of the sudden loss, finding only deepening emptiness and grief.
- "Knowing that they knew true love and happiness as a family has been a great source of comfort to me," he said.
- "If this terrible loss can lead to meaningful change, improve pedestrian safety and save lives, then there can be no greater tribute" to their legacy.