Indian Origin Man Drove Over 120 MPH Drunk Before Fatal San Ramon, Calif., Crash, Police Say

A Pleasanton man now charged with murder was traveling at speeds exceeding 150 mph before his Tesla collided with a Ford Bronco on Crow Canyon Road, killing a Castro Valley woman and seriously injuring her husband, according to San Ramon police.

Badal Devendra Dholaria, 27, was driving westbound at more than 150 mph on Crow Canyon Road last Saturday when he struck the rear passenger side of the Bronco at a speed of at least 120 mph, according to preliminary findings released Thursday by the San Ramon Police Department’s Traffic and Investigations Division, Pleasanton Patch reported.

The violent collision on the afternoon of November 29 claimed the life of Alix Mari Sparks, 41, of Castro Valley, according to Danville San Ramon and Pleasanton Weekly. The driver of the Bronco, a 40-year-old Castro Valley man whose name has not been released, was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek for treatment of his injuries and later released, police said.

Witness Describes Terrifying Scene

Hayward resident Edwin Beltran told Danville San Ramon that he was riding back home from a gym in San Ramon when he witnessed the aftermath of the crash. The Tesla Model 3 had nearly hit their car as it sped past at what appeared to be in excess of 100 mph, he said.

“It was a horrible experience to witness,” Beltran said, according to the news outlet. “The driver at fault (Tesla driver) proceeded to try to unbuckle the victim’s wife, but I and everyone stopped him from doing so cause you’re not supposed to touch or move a body that’s been in an accident if they can’t move on their own. And of course the driver in fault had no scratches or cuts, just a bruise.”

Murder Charge Filed

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed formal charges against Dholaria on Wednesday, including murder, two counts of DUI causing injury, and two counts of driving with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08% causing injury, according to multiple news outlets. He also faces special allegations of causing great bodily injuries to both victims.

“I want to be clear: every DUI-related incident represents a choice – a choice that can kill,” Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said in a news release announcing the charges Wednesday, as reported by Pleasanton Weekly and Danville San Ramon. “If you’re impaired, don’t drive.”

Dholaria was scheduled to be arraigned in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez at 1:30 p.m. Thursday on the five-count felony complaint.

Immediate Arrest at Scene

San Ramon Police officers responded to the two-vehicle collision on Crow Canyon Road at approximately 3:23 p.m. Saturday, according to the San Ramon Police Department statement reported by Contra Costa Herald. Sparks sustained fatal injuries in the collision.

The preliminary investigation indicated the collision was caused by Dholaria, who was suspected of driving under the influence, police said. He was taken into custody at the scene and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on initial charges of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, as reported by Contra Costa Herald, the five-foot, three-inch tall, 120-pound Dholaria was being held on $300,000 bail.

Road Closure and Investigation

The aftermath of the crash, including the emergency response, police investigation and scene cleanup, closed a long stretch of Crow Canyon Road for hours – from Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon to Norris Canyon Road in Castro Valley because of the lack of outlets off Crow Canyon between those two intersections, according to Danville San Ramon.

“This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” San Ramon police said in a statement Sunday morning, as reported by multiple outlets. The department expressed its condolences to the family, stating, “Our heartfelt condolences go out to those affected by this tragic incident.”

San Ramon police continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash and are encouraging other potential witnesses to come forward and contact detectives at 925-973-2779.

Understanding the Murder Charge

Under California law, a murder charge can be filed in DUI cases when prosecutors can prove “implied malice” – that the defendant acted with a conscious disregard for human life. This typically applies when drivers with prior DUI convictions or who have received specific warnings about the dangers of drunk driving choose to drive while impaired.

The charges come during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, historically one of the deadliest periods for drunk driving-related fatalities across the United States.

Top image of Badal Devendra Dholaria, courtesy of Henry K. LeeKTVU. This story was aggregated by AI from several news reports and edited by American Kahani’s News Desk.