The man who allegedly plunged his Tesla off of a cliff in California on purpose — with his family inside — has been charged with...
The man who allegedly plunged his Tesla off of a cliff in California on purpose — with his family inside — has been charged with attempted murder.
Dharmesh Patel crashed the car over the edge of the road at Devil’s Slide in California with two young children and his wife inside. He was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and attempted murder following the incident earlier this month. However, he was not officially charged until he was released from the hospital and put in jail.
According to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Twitter page, he has been “charged with 3 counts of attempted murder and enhancements.”
Patel’s two children and wife, Neha Patel, survived the fall and have also been discharged from the hospital.
Neha Patel reportedly told emergency response personnel at the scene that her husband was trying to kill the family.
On Monday, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe told the Times that Neha had said, “‘He intentionally tried to kill us,’” to first responders.
“A couple of paramedics rappelled down the side of the cliff and as they were helping her out, she said in a very loud voice, to the effect, ‘He tried to kill us, he intentionally tried to kill us,’ ” Wagstaffe also said to NBC News on Tuesday.
“She said very simply this was not an accident,” Wagstaffe stated, noting that the prosecution had not spoken with Neha, but still had enough information to put forward the charges.
“We hope that, when her health improves, she would be able to give us a statement,” Wagstaffe said, per NBC.
The prosecution has multiple key materials to back up their charges.
They have tunnel footage that reveals Patel “making a sharp right turn over the cliff,” according to Wagstaffe. The team has also discussed the event with two witnesses who were in vehicles behind the Patels’ car and will state that they did not witness the Tesla try to stop prior to careening over the edge, he stated.
“We have concluded that the evidence supports the fact that he intentionally drove his vehicle over that cliff, thereby obviously endangering not just his wife and two children but his own life,” Wagstaffe said at a press conference Monday after Patel’s first court appearance. Patel is being held with no bail.
Patel was a radiologist living in Northern California, and his alleged actions stunned people who knew him.
“They’re a beautiful, idyllic family, no indication of issues,” Roger Newmark, a neighbor, previously told the Times. “It’s so strange because he is a great guy. Maybe it was a moment of insanity.”
“He’s just so present,” Sarah Walker, another neighbor who socialized with the family, said. “Dharmesh and I would wave ‘Hi,’ but he would always come over and have a conversation. He was always happy and ready to talk.”
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