Attempted Murder Charge Against Indian American Doctor Who Drove Car Off California Cliff With Family Inside
- According to the San Mateo County District Attorney, the wife of the accused told the paramedics who came to the rescue that her husband intentionally tried to kill her and their two kids.
The Indian American doctor who drove a Tesla off a cliff in California, with family inside, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder. The charges come four weeks after Dharmesh A. Patel crashed his car with his wife, Neha Patel, 41, and their two children — a 7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy. Two of the counts have enhancements of domestic violence, great bodily injury, serious felony and prior felony, The Mercury News reported, citing the San Mateo County Superior Court.
The Jan. 2 crash occurred at “Devil’s Slide,” a scenic but treacherous part of California Highway 1. When rescue crews arrived on the scene, they found the Tesla four-door sedan plunged 250 feet off the cliff, resting on the water’s edge after flipping several times. After observing through binoculars, the crews realized there were survivors. After a dramatic and highly technical operation that involved a helicopter, the crews, were able to rescue the family of four. They were seriously injured and were being treated at Stanford hospital.
Patel, who suffered an injury to a foot or leg in the accident, was later arrested at the hospital. His wife’s injuries were more severe and remains in the hospital. The children have both been released from the hospital: the 7-year-old daughter had more serious injuries than the 4-year-old son, who survived with only bruises, The Mercury News report said, quoting Wagstaffe. “For now, both children are living with their father’s relatives in the Bay Area,” the report added.
News reports quoted San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe saying that Neha Patel, 41, who was still conscious when paramedics made it to the crushed car at the bottom of a steep cliff, started “screaming” about her husband’s “intentionality” to kill her and their two kids.
She then started “screaming” about her husband’s “intentionality” to kill her and their two kids, a 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told the San Francisco Chronicle.
In a press conference on Jan. 30, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told media that “video footage from a camera perched atop the Tom Lantos Tunnel shows that after Patel exited the tunnel, he continued uphill, then made two right turns, one into a wide dirt shoulder and the next, a sharp right over the cliff,” as reported by The San Francisco Chronicle.
Wagstaffe said that officials investigating the incident don’t believe that the Tesla was in self-drive mode at the time. There are no signs of mechanical failure either. The intent behind the crash is being investigated.
Wagstaffe additionally informed the media that when paramedics reached the site of the crash, Neha Patel was still conscious. She then started “screaming” about her husband’s “intentionality” to kill her and their two kids, Wagstaffe told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Meanwhile, Patel appeared in court on Jan. 30, and declined to enter a plea. He will remain in the Redwood City jail without bail. However, the judge rejected Deputy District Attorney Dominique Davis’ request that Patel has no contact with his wife. Instead, Finigan issued a less restrictive “no harassment” order.
His arraignment was adjourned until Feb. 9.