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A 28-year-old Pleasanton man was sentenced Thursday to nearly 15 years in prison for his role in a fatal crash on the outskirts of San Ramon last year.
Badal Dholaria is likely to serve about 12.5 years of the 14-year, 8-month sentence handed down Oct. 15 by a Contra Costa judge after receiving credit for 322 days of time served and 48 days of good behavior.
The sentence came after Dholaria last month agreed to plead no contest to charges of manslaughter, driving under the influence and assault in connection with the collision that killed Alix Sparks, a 41-year-old nurse and Castro Valley resident, last November. The plea deal allowed Dholaria to avoid a trial that was scheduled to begin next month.
“I do find that it is in the interest of justice to accept the plea agreement reached between the people and the defense, so that we can recognize the tragedy of what happened, the personal circumstances of Mr. Dholaria on that day and the benefit of bringing closure to the legal process in this case,” Contra Costa Superior Court Judge Stephanie Clarke said at Thursday’s sentencing.
“As we all know, there is no such thing as closure when someone’s life is lost — that is an illusion that is perpetrated by, I think, the media and others,” she added.
Police said Dholaria was driving drunk in a Tesla at more than 150 mph on westbound Crow Canyon Road about 3:30 p.m. Nov. 29 when his car collided with a Ford Bronco near the intersection with Bollinger Canyon Road. Sparks, a passenger in the Bronco, died from her injuries. The driver, her husband Gregory, was injured in the crash.
Gregory Sparks at Thursday’s sentencing said the couple had been returning from a hike at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve with their two dogs when he heard squealing tires. He said he then found himself pinned to the side of the overturned vehicle by an airbag.
“The moment after that, I watched the love of my life die in my arms in front of my eyes, all because a drunk driver with a new Tesla wanted to see how fast he could go,” he said.
One of the couple’s two dogs was also killed in the crash. A bystander intervened to keep the surviving dog from running away, according to the victim’s mother.
Katherine Sparks, Gregory Sparks’ mother, also spoke at Thursday’s sentencing about the lasting effects of the crash on her son.
“It’s a miracle he wasn’t permanently physically injured, but his mental trauma and anguish of that day will last a lifetime,” she said. “Greg lost half his family.”
Through tears, friends and family gathered in the courtroom remembered Alix Sparks as an avid baker, gardener, hiker, experienced healthcare professional and born leader who was dedicated to her patients and staff as well as to her loved ones. They expressed ambivalence toward the outcome of the sentencing hearing and noted nothing could make the situation right.
“No sentence can bring Alix back or restore the future she was denied,” said Janelle Kelly, a friend and colleague. “Alix was more than a victim of a drunk driving collision. She was a beautiful human whose life matters. Her life deserves to be remembered for the way it was, not the tragic way it ended.”
Dholaria’s attorney said her client “expresses his deepest remorse and sincerest condolences to family and friends.”
The judge began her remarks by noting that “the tragedy of today is not lost on anybody.”
“Mr. Sparks was also seriously injured, not just the loss of his wife and partner, and of course Bodie, one of the dogs, injuries that he sustained, and of course his memory and grief over the horrible event,” Clarke said. “Mr. Dholaria is also a young man. He is 28. He has absolutely no prior record. He too will live with the memory of that day, and also his guilt and hopefully remorse over what happened that day.”
While the defense moved to waive fees for Dholaria on the grounds that he did not have the means to pay, the judge opted to impose the minimum fine of $150.
“I am imposing the minimum in light of the fact that I recognize there may well be a claim against Mr. Dholaria for victim restitution by Mr. Sparks and his family,” Clarke said. “The court believes that any amount imposed awarding Mr. Sparks restitution are more important to pay and should take precedence over a fine.”
The judge reserved the right to award victim restitution at a later hearing.
