California officials say the driver of a Tesla that plummeted over 250 feet off a San Mateo highway has been arrested for attempted murder and child abuse.
According to media reports, Dharmesh A. Patel, of Pasadena, California, was allegedly behind the wheel of the vehicle when it went over the side of a coastal road at a spot known as the Devil’s Slide, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Also, inside were another adult and two children.
“CHP investigators worked throughout the night interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence from the scene,” the highway patrol statement said. “Based on the evidence collected, investigators developed probable cause to believe this incident was an intentional act.”
All four survived and were transported to a local hospital for treatment of what the CHP says were serious injuries.
Charging documents show that the other adult was a 41-year-old woman, and the two children were a girl, aged 7, and a boy, aged 4. The documents didn’t specify what their relationship is to Patel. California Highway Patrol later identified them as his wife and children.
Patel, his wife Neha, their 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son survived after their car tumbled down the cliffside Monday.
Patel is listed as a doctor at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills.
On Tuesday, the medical center released the following statement:
“Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is deeply saddened to learn of a traffic incident involving one of our physicians and his family. We are extremely grateful there were no serious injuries. We will not respond further, as this incident is under investigation.”
The car flipped a couple of times before landing on its wheels, wedged against the cliff just steps away from the ocean.
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