A doctor who police say deliberately pushed a Tesla off a California cliff, injuring his wife and his own two children, was charged with attempted murder and the death of a child when he was released from the hospital in stable condition Wednesday. You will be charged with rape.
Dharmesh Patel, 41, a radiologist from Pasadena, was arrested after being rescued from a wrecked vehicle on the rocky bottom of Devil’s Slide, a notorious cliff above the Pacific Ocean south of San Francisco. it was done.
Patel, his 41-year-old wife, 7-year-old daughter, and 4-year-old son all survived a plunge of about 300 feet (91 meters) to the water’s edge.
Patel was taken to hospital Monday with serious injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol. Authorities plan to reserve him at the San Mateo County Jail in Redwood City after his release.
It was not immediately clear if Patel had hired a lawyer.
Initial reports after Monday’s crash suggested that Tesla may have been in a fully autonomous mode, but CHP has since said that driving mode did not appear to be a factor in the accident.
“Based on the evidence collected, investigators have determined cause to believe that this incident was a deliberate act,” the CHP said in a statement.
Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, the Los Angeles hospital where Patel works, said it was “deeply saddened” to learn of the incident.
“We are very grateful that there were no serious injuries,” he said in a statement. “As this incident is under investigation, no further action will be taken.”
It took about three hours to complete the rescue, said Brian Pottenger, battalion commander of the San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit.
Pottenger said children with minor injuries were the first to be rescued, after which helicopters pulled up adults with serious injuries.
“Children were securely fastened in appropriate child restraints, and the child restraints were properly secured to the vehicle,” says Pottenger. “In our opinion, the car seat saved the lives of her two children.”
Rescue workers responded to a call shortly after 10 a.m. Monday that a vehicle was parked on the side of the road south of the Tom Lantos Tunnel in the San Francisco area.
The Tesla Patel was driving was on the main part of the road before turning off a cliff, he said.
“There have been constant accidents in the area over the years where vehicles have run off the roadway,” he said.
