Paul McManus was killed five years ago. His family is still waiting for justice

Paul McManus was killed five years ago. His family is still waiting for justice. On October 27, 2021, Paul McManus, a 40-year-old Melbourne-born tech engineer, was fatally injured in a collision with a vehicle in San Francisco’s Mission District. According to reports, McManus was riding his motorcycle home from a James Taylor concert when a driver allegedly ran a red light and struck him at a busy intersection. He was taken to hospital with critical injuries and died before midnight. The incident has left his family in deep mourning, as they continue to seek closure and accountability. McManus' family includes his father, Brian, his sister, Sarah, his mother, Jennifer, and his brother, Dave. The woman allegedly behind the wheel of the grey Jeep Compass involved in the crash was identified as Breanna Gordon, who was 32 at the time. Gordon was charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and released from police custody. However, the case did not proceed smoothly. The man in Gordon's passenger seat, her boyfriend at the time, fled the scene before police arrived because he had two active warrants outstanding. Police alleged that he evaded capture for some time. News of the accident reached McManus' family in Australia through a call from his wife, Fern, who was in California. Jennifer McManus was in the shower when her daughter, Sarah, received the call. Sarah recalled that Fern called at midnight, which was unusual because it was typically Paul’s phone that would ring. Fern informed them that Paul had been in an accident and was dead. The family was in shock, struggling to process the sudden loss. Fern, reflecting on the moment, described how she remained unusually calm upon arriving at the crash site. This composure, she explained, was a habit she learned from her late husband, Paul, who was known for his calm demeanor and ability to remain composed even in difficult situations. Fern noted that Paul had taught her how to handle tragic events with grace and resilience. McManus was deeply connected to his dog, Huxley, whom he adopted in Mexico during a trip with friends. The pair bonded over discussions about marine biologist Sylvia Earle. They were married for over a year before his untimely death. Legal proceedings following the crash faced numerous delays. Six weeks after the accident, Gordon failed to appear for a court arraignment hearing. For three years, the case remained in pre-trial status due to a backlog of cases exacerbated by the pandemic. When the case was finally scheduled for trial in June 2024, Gordon again failed to appear, leading to the issuance of a bench warrant for her arrest. Family members expressed frustration over the lack of progress, noting that despite repeated requests to US authorities, they were told there were insufficient resources to locate Gordon. Jennifer McManus stated that Gordon had not been without a vehicle, as she had retrieved her car before Fern received Paul’s motorbike from the insurance company. Efforts to track Gordon were hindered by limited support from local law enforcement. The family considered hiring a private investigator but opted against it due to cost concerns. They also sought assistance from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, which offered little beyond advising them to file an overseas death certificate. Two years later, in May 2026, Gordon was re-arrested on a bench warrant and returned to San Francisco. The McManus family learned of this development through a journalist at The San Francisco Standard. Dave, Paul’s brother, remarked that the government should have done more under the circumstances, yet the family has not received further updates. As of August 2026, the McManus family is preparing for Paul’s case to go to trial by the end of October. While they have since established contact with legal representatives, the emotional toll of waiting for justice continues to weigh heavily on them. The case remains unresolved, and the family waits for the day when the truth will finally come to light.