The case ended in a plea deal to manslaughter after an initial murder charge, with the victim's husband speaking in court.
SAN RAMON, CA - October 29, 2026
A Pleasanton man was sentenced to 14 years and eight months in prison for a crash near Crow Canyon and Bollinger Canyon roads in San Ramon that killed 41-year-old Alix Sparks, according to East Bay Times. Her husband, Gregory Sparks, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Key Facts
- Date: Crash on Nov. 29, 2025; sentencing on Oct. 15 (year as reported in the source)
- Location: Near Crow Canyon Road and Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, California
- Type of crash: Fatal collision
- Vehicles involved: Tesla
- Injuries / fatalities: One death; one person hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries
- Responding agencies: Police and fire department
- Reported by: East Bay Times
Crash Overview
The collision occurred on Nov. 29, 2025, near Crow Canyon and Bollinger Canyon roads. The driver, Badal Devendra Dholaria, 28, of Pleasanton, was driving a Tesla. Authorities estimated his speed at about 150 miles per hour, though they said he had slowed to around 120 miles per hour at impact. Dholaria later told police he had been drinking before driving.
A witness saw the vehicle speeding and called police, but the call did not come in time for officers to stop Dholaria before the collision. When officers and firefighters arrived, they asked him to turn off the Tesla because of concern about a possible fire. Court filings state that he was argumentative and refused.
Alix Sparks was declared dead at the scene. Her husband was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Dholaria was initially charged with murder. Under a plea agreement, he pleaded no contest to manslaughter, and the murder charge was dismissed. He was sentenced on Oct. 15. Before sentencing, Gregory Sparks told the court about surviving the crash and watching his wife die. The court will count the jail time Dholaria served before the case was resolved toward his term. Court records state that his trial had been scheduled for Nov. 9 if he had not accepted the plea deal.