Cops say it wasn’t a Tesla autopilot error – a doctor deliberately drove his wife and two kids over a cliff along the ocean in California. They plan to arrest him for attempted murder and child abuse once he’s out of the hospital.
Tesla plunges 250 feet off cliff along the ocean in California
First responders rescued two adults and two children from a Tesla that plunged 250 feet off a cliff on Monday morning after traveling southbound on the Pacific Coast Hwy. in San Mateo County, California.
The car went over a cliff at Devil’s Slide, south of the Tom Lantos tunnel, and landed near the water’s edge below, according to the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit.
Witnesses who saw the accident called 911. First responders arrived to find that the car had flipped several times during the fall before finally landing on its wheels.
All four passengers miraculously survive
The Tesla lay crushed and mangled at the bottom of the cliff, on rocks at the edge of the ocean, amid rain, heavy winds, and crashing waves.
After crews were being lowered down, they were surprised to see movement in the front seat through binoculars, NBC reported.
“We were actually very shocked when we found survivable victims in the vehicle,” CAL FIRE/Coastside Fire Incident Commander and battalion chief Brian Pottenger said. “So, that actually was a really hopeful moment for us.”
Officials reported that they had for critical patients, two of which were minors.
Devil’s Slide is a known and notorious spot. “We go there all the time for cars over the cliff and they never live,” Pottenger said. “This was an absolute miracle.”
After the horrific cliffside crash made headline news around the nation on Monday, the initial speculation was that perhaps the Tesla had been set on autopilot and the vehicle made an error that caused it to go off the road.
But after further investigation, authorities announced they had reached a chilling conclusion…
Cops say doctor deliberately drove off cliff with wife and two kids inside
On Wednesday, authorities said that the driver, Dharmesh Patel, a 41-year-old physician from Pasadena, deliberately drove the Tesla over the cliff, the New York Post reported.
Inside the vehicle with Patel were his wife, Neha, and their children, a 7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy.
“CHP investigators worked throughout the night interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence from the scene,” the California Highway Patrol said in a statement. “Based on the evidence collected, investigators developed probable cause to believe this incident was an intentional act.”
According to a report by CBS, investigators had not yet determined what driving mode the Tesla was in, which included whether or not it had its autopilot function on, but investigators did not believe the autopilot mode contributed to the crash.
Doctor to be arrested after discharge from the hospital
Officials from the California Highway Patrol said Patel will be booked on attempted murder and child abuse charges once he leaves the hospital.
