Calif. man charged after allegedly intentionally driving off cliff with family inside
01/31/2023 1:51 pm PST
SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. (TCD) -- Prosecutors charged a 40-year-old doctor from Southern California for allegedly purposely driving off a cliff known as Devil’s Slide with his family inside his Tesla.
The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday, Jan. 31, that Dharmesh Patel has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and enhancements in connection with the Jan. 2 crash.
California Highway Patrol officials and other law enforcement agencies received a call Jan. 2 about a "vehicle over the cliff" on Devil’s Slide.
First responders located the vehicle and determined there were two adults and two children inside the car. California Highway Patrol shared a video of a Fire Helicopter Rescue technician rappelling down and rescuing the family. The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said the two children, ages 4 and 7, were not harmed, but the two adults suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
This afternoon, deputies responded to a solo vehicle over the side of Hwy 1 south of the Tom Lantos tunnel. Two adults suffered non-life threatening injuries and two children were unharmed. Tremendous collaborative effort btwn SMSO, @CHP_GoldenGate and @calfireSCU pic.twitter.com/sVyKp6LSrc
— San Mateo County S.O (@SMCSheriff) January 3, 2023 @SMCSheriff
According to a statement from California Highway Patrol San Francisco, the Tesla fell 250 to 300 feet down the cliff. Investigators reportedly determined after interviews that there was "probable cause to believe this incident was an intentional act."
Patel was initially taken into custody on charges of attempted murder and child abuse.
San Mateo County Jail records show Patel is being held without bail.
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