Bay Area/ San Francisco

San Francisco Widow, 79, Accused of Shielding Assets After Fatal Crash That Killed Family of Four

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Published on May 16, 2025
San Francisco Widow, 79, Accused of Shielding Assets After Fatal Crash That Killed Family of FourSource: Google Street View

In a new development concerning a catastrophic incident in San Francisco's West Portal neighborhood, 79-year-old Mary Fong Lau, the driver charged with vehicular manslaughter for the deaths of a family of four, is also facing allegations of fraudulent asset transfers. A civil lawsuit filed this month by attorneys for the victims' families accuses Lau of shuffling her real estate holdings into limited liability companies to shield them from potential financial claims. According to a KRON4 report, the suit, invoking the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act, aims to prevent Lau from making further transfers and to reverse transactions made since the March 2024 crash.

Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, 40, his 38-year-old wife Matilde Moncado Ramos Pinto, and their two young children were fatally struck by Lau's vehicle while awaiting a bus trip to the zoo. Lau, who has pleaded not guilty and remains out of custody, is scheduled on July 17 to set a date for her preliminary hearing in criminal court. Found driving the wrong way and speeding, her actions were deemed "gross negligence" by prosecutors, as KRON4 interviews revealed.

Under scrutiny are the transfers of three San Francisco properties previously owned by Lau to Sterling Haven Management LLC and Desert Canyon Ventures LLC, both Nevada LLCs. Each property is appraised at over $1 million, reinforcing the gravity of the lawsuit's allegations. KRON4 quoted Attorney Rebecca Coll as saying, "This new lawsuit exposes an intentional scheme by Ms. Lau to place assets beyond the reach of grieving families seeking justice, showing an unwillingness by Ms. Lau to take accountability for her actions." Lau's defense denies these claims, insisting the property reorganization was guided by professional advice and not meant to dodge financial consequences.

On the other hand, Lau's attorney, Seth Morris, stated to KRON4, "In the aftermath of the accident, Ms. Lau and her family sought professional help from legal, financial, medical, and mental health consultants. While Ms. Lau was advised to reorganize her property holdings in the months following the accident, none of these transfers were intended to evade potential damages arising from this heartbreaking event." The defense maintains that Lau's actions were not habitual, but occurred when her 2014 Mercedes-Benz SUV unexpectedly accelerated. As clarified by District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, mechanical failure was not a factor.

The recent developments have drawn public attention to the intersecting paths of criminal accountability and civil liability. As the legal processes unfold, the core of the tragedy remains a family's irreplaceable loss, a sentiment echoed by family members in previous statements, as they described Diego and Matilde as devoted parents and "life enhancers." The narrative becomes tethered to the courtroom, where the coming months will shed light on the quest for justice and reparations. Further insights will emerge with Lau's preliminary hearing in July, spotlighting the evolving consequences of the tragic crash last spring, as recounted by KTVU's coverage.