Wow. This is almost tragic.
Doctor Dharmesh Arvind Patel, 41, of Pasadena, California, has been charged with attempted murder and child abuse after allegedly driving his family off a 250-foot cliff — on purpose! There, authorities responded to a 911 call claiming a Tesla had veered off Highway 1 while traveling southbound near Pacifica. The car crashed into the south bank of the Tom Lantos Tunnel around 10:50 a.m. local time. Talk to NBC Bay Area, Robin Johnsoneyewitness, remembers thinking:
“Wow, they drive too fast to take it out. You don’t even have to go up the road.
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He added about the driver:
“And I could see in the rearview mirror of this car that it just went over the edge and went straight down.”
He immediately called for help and about 30 to 50 rescuers appeared on the scene. The rescue team then used a rope to rappel down the cliff, also known as the Devil’s Slide, which is estimated to be nearly 250 feet down, according to San Francisco Chronicle. Because of the crazy roll, he didn’t expect anyone to survive the crash – but miraculously, everyone did!
according to KTVU, they saw passengers signaling for help as they descended. Once in the vehicle with the Jaws of Life, first responders found four people alive and conscious. This includes the driver as well as his wife Neha, also 41, and four years and seven years. The children were first rescued from the vehicle and lifted onto the road via ropes. He was quickly placed on a stretcher and assessed for minor to moderate injuries sustained.
Things are more difficult for the elderly and air support is called to help. In a creepy video posted online by CalFire (below), a helicopter can be seen hovering over the scene, picking up an adult, and returning safely to a landing pad where first responders are waiting. After everyone was rescued, the whole family was transported to Stanford Medical Centerwhere he was treated for his injuries.
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Dharmesh, who is a radiologist, will be booked into the San Mateo County Jail after his release from the hospital. He and his wife are in moderate to critical condition, according to the release KTVU. Thank you very much, they are “non-life threatening injuries,” per the San Mateo Sheriff’s Office, which also described the children as “harmless.” What a great result after such a scary situation!
Brian Potterbattalion chief with Coastal Fire Protection Area Kabreflected in the scene in the statement to NBC Bay Areasaid:
“We’re out here, unfortunately, for things like this. And there’s no miracle that we’ll survive.
He was right about that. Take a look at the hilarious scene (below).
This afternoon, deputies responded to a solo vehicle on Hwy 1 south of the Tom Lantos tunnel. Two adults suffered non-life threatening injuries and two children were not injured. A remarkable collaborative effort between SMSO, @CHP_GoldenGate and @calfireSCU pic.twitter.com/sVyKp6LSrc
– San Mateo County SO (@SMCSheriff) January 3, 2023
Yawis.
It is currently unclear why Dharmesh is believed to have pushed his family off the cliff “accidentally”, however California highway patrol determined that “based on the evidence collected, investigators found a credible possibility that this incident was an intentional act.” While investigators have not yet determined what Tesla’s driving mode was at the time of the crash, they do not believe it was a factor in the incident, per the CHP. An investigation is underway. Just terrible. I hope they all get well soon.
Witnesses are asked to call the CHP at 415-557-1094.
[Image via San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office/Twitter]