San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said an arrest warrant has been issued for the 78-year-old driver in the fatal crash in West Portal and she will face four felony charges.
San Francisco Police Chief William Scott and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins made the announcement about the investigation into the deadly collision during a news conference at San Francisco Police Department headquarters on Third Street.
The tragic crash occurred on March 16 while the family was on their way to the zoo and were waiting at a bus stop in West Portal at the intersection of Ulloa Street and Lennox Way.
An SUV driven by Mary Fong Lau, 78, was traveling east on Ulloa at approximately 12:13 p.m. when the vehicle crashed into the bus stop.
Diego Cardoso de Oliveira and his 2-year-old son Joaquin died at the scene. The mother, Matilde Ramos Pinto, and baby Caue Ramos Pinto de Oliveira were hospitalized. The mother died the next day from her injuries and the baby died on March 20.
After the crash, Lau was arrested and booked on suspicion of manslaughter, reckless driving, reckless driving causing bodily harm, driving in the wrong direction on a divided road, and driving at an unsafe speed. However, the district attorney did not file charges in the weeks that followed as the investigation into the incident continued.
Witnesses said the driver was traveling between 50 and 70 miles per hour going the wrong way on Ulloa Street. They said there were no signs of braking and no skid marks on the road.
Lau’s attorney said she remained hospitalized for the week following the collision, but no details were released about her injuries and condition.
A few days after the crash, Lau and her family released the following statement through her attorney:
“Ms Lau and her family join the community in mourning the tragic loss of life that occurred in West Portal this past weekend.
We extend our gratitude to the San Francisco Police Department, the San Francisco Fire Department and all other responders who responded to the scene, and to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for conducting a diligent and thorough investigation into the circumstances leading up to this tragic accident. Ms. Lau has cooperated fully with investigators and will continue to do so.
While it is understandable that more information needs to be sought regarding the causes of this devastating accident, Ms. Lau and her family respectfully request privacy during this difficult time while investigators continue to gather relevant information.”
