Ceramic artist gets vehicular manslaughter charge in crash that killed Berkeley jogger

By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

BERKELEY, Calif. – A local ceramic artist has been charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for a crash that killed a Berkeley jogger in February. 

KTVU learned of the charges against 85-year-old Buldan Seka on Tuesday.

The crash happened in Berkeley on the afternoon of February 12 at the intersection of Marin Avenue and Oxford Street. Friends identified the victim who was struck as 37-year-old Julia Elkin. The victim died weeks after being struck by the car when she suffered a traumatic brain injury. 

Friends said Elkin had just landed her dream job at Sonoma Land Trust before the crash. 

Berkeley police would not confirm if Elkin was in the crosswalk or not. 

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. 

A website for the prolific Berkeley artist shows her ceramics. She is a prominent figure in the local art scene and has an affiliation with California College of Arts. Her work and accomplishments have been featured in several news outlets.  

About the Author

Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.