Pleasanton Driver Pleads No Contest in Fatal 150 MPH Crow Canyon Road Crash in San Ramon

A Pleasanton man accused of driving drunk at more than 150 mph before a deadly crash on Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon has pleaded no contest, according to court reporting by Danville San Ramon and Patch.

Badal Dholaria, 28, entered the plea on September 24 at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez. He pleaded no contest to manslaughter, driving under the influence causing injury, and assault by force likely to cause great bodily injury. A Contra Costa County Superior Court judge found him guilty of all three charges. He had originally pleaded not guilty in December 2025 to a set of charges that included murder.

Dholaria remains in custody on $1.2 million bail. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 15 in Martinez.

What Police Said Happened on Crow Canyon Road

The crash happened at about 3:30 p.m. on November 29, 2025, on Crow Canyon Road near Bollinger Canyon Road. Police said Dholaria was driving a Tesla Model S westbound at more than 150 mph and was still traveling at least 120 mph when the Tesla hit the rear passenger side of a Ford Bronco.

Alix Sparks, 41, a nurse from Castro Valley who was a passenger in the Bronco, died from her injuries. The Bronco's driver, also from Castro Valley, was injured and treated.

Why Extreme Speed Makes a Crash So Deadly

Crash energy rises with the square of speed, so a car traveling 120 mph carries roughly four times the force of the same car at 60 mph. At that speed, a driver has almost no time to react, and the other vehicle's safety systems are overwhelmed. Side and rear-quarter impacts are especially dangerous for passengers because there is less structure between them and the striking vehicle.

Crow Canyon Road is a busy commuter route linking San Ramon, Danville, and Castro Valley, with intersections, curves, and heavy traffic at many times of day.

A Criminal Plea and a Civil Claim Are Separate

A no contest plea resolves the criminal case, but it does not by itself compensate the victims or their families. In California, people injured in a DUI crash and the families of those killed can pursue a separate civil claim for medical costs, lost income, loss of support and companionship, and other losses. In some DUI cases, California law also allows punitive damages.

Families should keep in mind that California generally allows two years to file a wrongful-death claim, and a criminal case moving slowly does not pause that deadline.