Baby dies in West Portal crash

SAN FRANCISCO – Loved ones of a family killed in a car crash at a bus stop in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood are now accusing the driver in the deadly crash of concealing additional assets, according to court filings. 

The family members of the victims filed an amended claim this month. The family alleges that the driver, Mary Fong Lau, 79, who faces felony vehicular manslaughter charges for killing the family of four, was attempting to conceal assets. 

The family’s attorneys are asking to have the asset transfers, which allegedly include real estate owned by Lau in San Diego and Indio, voided. The original complaint was filed in April of this year. Court documents say Lau transferred assets out of her name and her revocable trust into limited liability companies that she owned. 

Lau allegedly also transferred some properties to third parties, including her son-in-law, named in documents as Thomas Callaghan. The victim’s family is asking the court to give their attorney additional time to gather evidence, as well as add Callaghan to the list of defendants to recover assets that were “wrongfully” transferred to him.  

The original complaint against Lau was filed under the California Uniform Voidable Transactions Act in May. The CVTA was created to protect victims and creditors from debtors who attempt to hide assets and avoid liability. 

Lau’s attorney admits transfers were “ill-advised”

The other side:

In an Oct. 17 court filing, Lau’s attorney noted that the property transfers were “ill advised”. KTVU reached out to they attorney for comment about the additional claims. We have not yet heard back. The court documents also claim that continuing the litigation with UVTA could force Lau to plead the fifth amendment, in an attempt to avoid further criminal charges. 

Lau’s attorneys are seeking a stay on the UVTA case. 

“Defendants’ own admission that these transfers were ‘ill-advised’— coupled with their argument that the facts could lead to criminal charge—confirms the fraudulent nature of the conduct alleged,” Rebecca Coll, the attorney representing the victims’ family, stated. “We will vigorously oppose any attempt to stay this case or delay justice.”

Lau is facing four felony vehicular manslaughter charges for the deadly crash. The crash occurred in March 2024, when then 78-year-old Lau drove her vehicle into a bus stop where a family of four was sitting. Two parents were killed along with their two young children.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said speed and gross negligence were factors in the crash, which happened when Lau allegedly slammed her 2014 Mercedes-Benz SUV into the family.

Lau’s attorney said that she was delivering lunch to her brother when “her car just took off.” He said the crash was an isolated incident and not habitual behavior.

A memorial popped up at the bus stop in the days following the crash. New safety measures were also put in place nearby, including making Lenox into a one-way street. 

San FranciscoTraffic