In a tragic incident that shocked the West Portal community, 78-year-old Mary Fong Lau, a Chinese-American driver, is facing charges for running over a family of four, including two young children, in March. Court records reveal that immediately after the accident, Lau told witnesses that she tried to brake, but “accidentally moved her foot to the gas pedal.” Later, she informed investigators that the car malfunctioned, causing it to accelerate suddenly, presenting conflicting accounts to both police and witnesses.

In July, Lau pleaded not guilty to four counts of vehicular manslaughter. Her next court appearance is scheduled for January 22.

The fatal collision occurred when Lau’s SUV crashed into a bus stop in West Portal, leading to the deaths of all four family members, including a one-year-old and another infant. This heart-wrenching event has sparked calls for traffic reform within the community.

According to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle, traffic accident investigators documented witness statements in court records, providing law enforcement with detailed insights into the incident.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from multiple angles; they found that Lau’s SUV was traveling at 44 miles per hour when it first appeared on the video and reached a speed of 72 miles per hour when it struck a library wall and the nearby bus stop. At the time, she told witnesses she intended to brake but “accidentally pressed the gas instead.”

After the crash, Lau explained to investigators that she was delivering food to her brother at the time and claimed that “the vehicle malfunctioned, causing it to accelerate suddenly.” She also stated she tried to brake and park the vehicle, but couldn’t slow it down.

It remains unclear whether her vehicle was already accelerating when she mistakenly pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake. Reports indicate that Lau attempted to steer the vehicle toward a utility pole to avoid hitting anyone.

In July, Lau discussed the accident with investigators who visited her at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. Law enforcement officials reported that Lau stated her vehicle had not shown any mechanical issues prior to the incident and was regularly serviced at a local dealership. Records provided to police during the investigation confirmed this information. An immediate inspection and toxicology tests conducted after the accident indicated that Lau had no medical conditions, was not under the influence of alcohol, and had not consumed any substances that could impair her ability to drive.