California woman, age 80, who killed a family of four while driving, likely to avoid prison time.

Elderly Driver Likely to Avoid Prison After Fatal Collision with Family

A tragic incident in San Francisco has left the family of an Apple executive devastated. An elderly woman, Mary von Lau, who is 80 years old, fatally struck Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, his wife Matilde Ramos, and their two young children, Joaquín and Kahue, with her Mercedes in March 2024, causing severe injuries to others as well.

Initially, Lau pleaded not guilty, but recently, she entered a no contest plea to the charges against her, as reported by a news outlet.

On that fateful day, Cardoso de Oliveira’s family was waiting for a bus in the West Portal area when Lau allegedly collided with them at a high speed.

Though she faces four counts of vehicular manslaughter, which could carry a hefty sentence in California, her age, apparent remorse, and clean criminal history suggest she may only receive two to three years of probation instead of prison time.

Judge Bruce Chan remarked on the incomprehensible nature of the tragedy but emphasized that incarcerating Lau would be equivalent to a “death sentence” for someone her age. He mentioned that Lau would live with the awareness of the harm she has caused.

Lau’s personal history, including the loss of her husband in a car accident years ago, played a role in the judge’s decision. According to reports, she showed deep remorse upon learning of the family’s death, lamenting to medical staff that she wished it were her who had been lost instead.

Victims’ family members expressed their outrage at the news that Lau might avoid prison. Denise Oliveira, Cardoso de Oliveira’s sister, shared her frustration with the court, stating that the process feels disrespectful, leaving them feeling powerless.

The prosecution echoed the family’s sentiments, expressing opposition to Lau’s no contest plea. A lawyer for the victims’ family criticized Lau for evading moral accountability and stressed the severity of her actions, highlighting how she sped through a residential area and caused the deaths of an entire family.

In the wake of this tragedy, the parents of the deceased couple have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lau. Moreover, they are pursuing additional civil actions to invalidate asset transfers made by Lau, which could potentially involve millions of dollars.