Berkeley woman will get 2 years in fatal hit-and-run cited by proponents of stricter penalties

OAKLAND — A Berkeley resident will receive a two-year prison term for killing a 31-year-old pedestrian  in a 2021 fatal crash, court records show.

Dominika Anderson, 38, pleaded no contest in June to a vehicular manslaughter charge in exchange for the two-year sentence, records show. Prosecutors have dropped an additional felony charge against her as part of the plea deal.

The victim, 31-year-old Courtney Osegueda, was walking across the 300 block of MacArthur Boulevard on Feb. 25, 2021 when Anderson crashed into her. Anderson then drove off without stopping to check on Osegueda or notifying authorities, according to court records.

An eyewitness who was stopping to let Osegueda pass at the time of the crash testified in the 2022 preliminary hearing that Anderson’s vehicle crossed over a double line, and police said in court papers she was speeding.

Osegueda’s death was cited by proponents of Gavin’s Law, a failed attempt to increase penalties in California for hit-and-run drivers. Members of her family have told media outlets that she left behind a young daughter and that they formed a nonprofit called Courtney’s Angels to help families going through similar tragedies.

Anderson remains out of jail pending sentencing, which has been set for Aug. 20, according to court records.