Family killed at San Francisco bus stop identified
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A 1-year-old baby and his parents who were killed while waiting at a San Francisco bus stop to visit the zoo last weekend were identified on Tuesday. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified the three victims as:
Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, 40
Matilde Moncada Ramos Pinto, 38
Joaquin Ramos Pinto de Oliveira, 1
The sole survivor was an infant, who is now left without parents and a sibling. The tragic incident happened at the Muni Metro West Portal Station while the family was waiting to catch a bus to see animals at the zoo Saturday.
What should have been a happy family outing turned into a heart-wrenching moment. Police said a white Mercedes SUV driven by Mary Fong Lau barreled into the bus stop, striking the victims at 12:13 p.m.
The infant remains in a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Lau, 78, is also currently in a hospital and being treated for injuries. San Francisco Police Department officers arrested Lau on three counts of felony manslaughter, reckless driving with bodily injury, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, and speeding.
Investigators said Lau had been driving through the West Portal neighborhood on Ulloa Street when she crashed into the bus stop at Lennox Way.
Hundreds attended a vigil for the family on Monday evening to mourn the deaths of baby Joaquin, his mother, and his father. Police Chief Bill Scott, Supervisor Myrna Melgar, and community members left flowers, stuffed animals, and candles at the bus stop’s growing memorial.
Melgar said, “A child now has no parents and no siblings. No family should ever have to go through this. My heart is utterly shattered by the loss of life in our community.”
Police are still investigating to learn what caused the collision. “We do not yet know the cause of the collision, and we are waiting to learn more from the full investigation. West Portal is a busy transit hub along a commercial corridor with a library, playground, and schools nearby,” Melgar said.
Lau’s attorney, Sam Geller and Geller Law firm, said the driver is fully cooperating with investigators.
Geller wrote in a statement to KRON4 on Tuesday, “Ms. Lau and her family join the community in mourning the tragic loss of life that occurred in West Portal. We express our gratitude to the San Francisco Police Department, the San Francisco Fire Department, and all of the other first responders that responded to the scene, and to the San Francisco District Attorneys Office for undertaking a diligent and thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this tragic accident. While it’s understandable to seek more information regarding the causes of this devastating accident, Ms. Lau and her family respectfully request privacy during this difficult time as investigators continue to gather relevant information.”
Supervisor Melgar said she is working with the city’s public works department, SFMTA, and residents in the neighborhood to talk about ways to improve safety for pedestrians and bus riders around the West Portal bus station.
Jodie Medeiros, executive director of Walk San Francisco, said, “This is one of the worst pedestrian tragedies to ever occur on San Francisco streets. It is almost beyond comprehension.”
Joaquin was the second child pedestrian killed in less than a year, according to Walk SF. On August 15, 2023, a 4-year-old girl was being pushed in a stroller by her parents when she was fatally struck by a vehicle. The girl was killed at the intersection of 4th & King Streets, one block away from Oracle Park baseball stadium.
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