Man Who Drove Family Over a Cliff

On the U.S. News and World Report website, Dharmesh A. Patel's bio says that he works as a radiologist in Mission Hills, California, and is "affiliated with Providence Holy Cross Medical Center."

The site says, "He got his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine and has been working as a doctor for between 11 and 20 years."

Pottenger said that when the police first got there, they didn't know how many people were inside, but they could see "motion in the front seat."

He said, "We knew at least one person was still alive." "We were really taken aback."

Dharmesh A. Patel of Pasadena was arrested on January 2 after he and his family were found at the bottom of a cliff off Route 1, just south of San Francisco. Patel has been charged with endangering his 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son and trying to kill his 41-year-old wife.

Public reports say that Patel's condition is serious but stable. When Patel gets out of hospital, he will be sent to the San Mateo County Jail. Patel's wife and two kids are still in the hospital as well.

The two children were the first ones pulled out of the wreckage. Their injuries were not too bad. Cal Fire San Mateo says that rescue workers climbed down from the road to the car and quickly brought the people up the cliff without the help of a helicopter.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said that both Patel and his wife were taken to the hospital by helicopter with serious but not life-threatening injuries. When people came to help, all four were awake and aware.

"We were very surprised to find people who could still live in the car. "That gave us hope," said Cal Fire San Mateo Santa Cruz Unit Battalion Chief Brian Pottenger. About 250 to 300 feet down the cliff, the Tesla car fell. Pottenger is said to have called the rescue an "absolute miracle".

Locals know that the stretch of Route 1 where the Tesla crashed is dangerous. They call it the Devil's Slide. At least nine people have died on that stretch of road, and CalTrans data show that the number of accidents on that part of the famous Pacific Crest Highway is 50% higher than on other highways in California.

Patel worked for Providence Holy Cross Mission Hills as a radiologist. On January 3, the hospital put out a statement to show its sadness.

"Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is very upset to hear that one of our doctors and his family were in a car accident. We are very thankful that no one got hurt seriously. We won't say anything else because this is being looked into."

Investigators from the CHP arrested Patel because they thought he drove the family's white Tesla on purpose off the cliff. In a statement, the CHP said that they spent the whole night talking to witnesses and collecting evidence from the scene, and they have a good reason to think that what happened was done on purpose.

One report said that a witness saw the Tesla suddenly veer off the road, go through the dirt, and fall off a cliff. The CHP said that they don't think the car's self-driving mode had anything to do with the accident.

It's not clear if Patel has said anything about the charges against him or hired a lawyer who can speak for him.

Now, neighbors have talked about how shocked they were because the Patels seemed like the perfect family. They often walked with their kids and gave cookies to neighbors.

"They have a beautiful, perfect family, and there are no signs of trouble,"

References:

Pasadena father arrested after driving family off cliff

Neighbors Left Confused After Seemingly 'Great Guy' Drove Tesla Off Cliff with 'Idyllic Family' Inside