California doctor faces attempted murder charges after pushing Tesla off cliff with family | US News

A doctor is facing attempted murder and child abuse charges after “deliberately” driving his Tesla off a cliff with his family.

Dharmesh Patel arrested after arrest rescued from wrecked vehicle At the bottom of a notoriously dangerous cliff near San Francisco known as the Devil’s Slide.

His 41-year-old wife, seven-year-old daughter and four-year-old son were also in the car and survived the 300-foot (91-meter) fall.

On Wednesday, Patel was said to be in stable condition at the hospital and will be sent to the San Mateo County Jail in Redwood City, California, upon his release.

In video provided by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, first responders respond after a Tesla fell off a cliff in Northern California on Monday, Jan. 1, along the Pacific Coast Highway. Four people were left in critical condition on Feb. 2, 2023, near an area known as the Devil's Landslide, a fire official said.  (San Mateo County Sheriff's Office via AP)
Emergency crews respond to the scene in video provided by Cal Fire San Mateo Santa Cruz after a Tesla fell off a cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway on Monday, Jan. 1. Four people are in critical condition near an area known as Devil's Landslide in northern California, Feb. 2, 2023, a fire official said. (Cal Fire San Mateo - Santa Cruz Unit via AP)

Initial reports suggested the Tesla may have been in full self-driving mode at the time of the crash, but police believe the crash was the “deliberate act” of the 41-year-old radiologist.

Police worked for three hours on Monday to rescue children with minor injuries.

A helicopter was then used to hoist the more seriously injured adults from the damaged car.

“The children were properly secured in the proper car seats and the car seats were properly secured in the vehicle,” said Brian Pottenger, battalion commander for the San Mateo-Santa Cruz detachment.

“In our opinion, the car seat saved the lives of those two children.”

Rescuers rescue a destroyed Tesla sedan that fell off a cliff in an area known as Devil's Slide in San Mateo County, California, on January 2, 2023. San Mateo County Sheriff's Office/Handout via Reuters This photo was provided by a third party.

The Tesla that Patel was driving was driving on a major portion of the road before turning off the cliff, he continued, adding that similar incidents are common in the area.

The hospital where Patel works said it was “deeply saddened” by the accident but also “very grateful” that the injuries were not worse.

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