Philadelphia woman charged in hands free car crash
Philadelphia Police

Philadelphia Woman Charged in Hands Free Car Crash

September 5, 2024

PHILADELPHIA — A 23-year-old woman has been charged in connection with a fatal crash that left two men dead after she allegedly struck their disabled vehicles while allegedly using hands-free driving technology on a highway near Philadelphia, authorities said.

Dimple Patel is facing charges including homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, and prohibited text-based communications, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. The incident occurred shortly before 3:30 a.m. on March 3 near mile marker 26.

Troopers said the crash involved two disabled vehicles parked on the side of the road. Aktilek Baktybekov’s Toyota Prius had broken down on the left shoulder and was partially protruding into the left lane. Tolobek Esenbekov, who had parked his Hyundai Elantra behind the Prius, was stepping out of his car when Patel’s Ford Mustang Mach-E rear-ended the Elantra at speeds between 71 and 72 mph. Both men were struck and died from their injuries.

Authorities said Patel was using the BlueCruise hands-free driving feature and the Adaptive Cruise Control system at the time of the crash. Additionally, troopers determined Patel had been texting while driving.

State Police emphasized that drivers using hands-free driving technology must remain alert and ready to take control of their vehicle. “No partially automated vehicle technology should ever be left alone to perform the driving tasks that are required to safely navigate the roads of the Commonwealth,” Trooper Paul Holdefer said in a statement.

Patel remains in custody and is awaiting further legal proceedings.

Shore News Network

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.