SAN MATEO COUNTY – Authorities have arrested a Los Angeles doctor on allegations that he intentionally drove a Tesla sedan carrying his wife and children off a steep cliff near Devil’s Slide on Monday, a crash that first responders called a “miracle” after everyone survived.
Dharmesh A. Patel, 41, of Pasadena, was formally booked Tuesday on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse offenses, according to the California Highway Patrol. But Patel remained in the hospital Wednesday, and the CHP said he would be transferred to a San Mateo County jail facility upon being discharged.
The specific conditions of the woman and two children in the vehicle — which plunged 250 feet before landing on rocks below — have not been disclosed, but CHP Officer Mark Andrews said Wednesday that they and Patel “remain in serious but stable condition.” All of the occupants were reportedly conscious and alert when they were reached by rescuers.
In the wake of the crash, the CHP said investigators “developed probable cause to believe the incident was an intentional act” after interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence at the crash site. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said a case has not yet been presented to his office for evaluation of criminal charges, due in part to Patel still being under medical care.
While the CHP did not disclose the relationship between Patel and the other people in the car, the hospital where he works, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, said in a statement that he was with his family. A law-enforcement source confirmed that they were Patel’s wife and two young children.
“Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is deeply saddened to learn of a traffic incident involving one of our physicians and his family,” the statement reads. “We are extremely grateful there were no severe injuries. We will not respond further, as this incident is under investigation.”
Patel specializes in radiology. Public records show that in addition to his Southern California home, he has had listed residences on the Peninsula and in the East Bay over the past decade.
The crash was reported around 10:50 a.m. Monday along Highway 1 just south of the Tom Lantos Tunnels. Responding officers arrived to find a white Tesla sedan 250 to 300 feet below the roadway. The spot where the vehicle went off the road did not have a guardrail.
One witness said the Tesla was headed south when it swerved and went over the cliff, said Cecile Juliette, a spokesperson for Cal Fire San Mateo, one of the agencies called to the scene.
Brian Pottenger, a battalion chief for Coastside Fire Protection District/Cal Fire, told The Associated Press that firefighters watching the sedan through binoculars spotted movement inside the mangled wreck, spurring an hours-long rescue operation in the face of heavy rain, winds and ocean waves. Because the doors were smashed against the cliff, firefighters had to pry the vehicle open to extract the survivors.
Rescuers used ropes and rescue baskets to bring the children to the top of the cliff before helicopters arrived and pulled up the adults. All four were then taken to a hospital.
High-profile crashes involving Tesla vehicles often raise questions about the role that driver assistance features might have played, but the CHP was quick to refute that idea.
“There has been no determination as to what driving mode the Tesla was in,” the CHP said in a news release. “However, that does not appear to be a contributing factor in this incident.”
The news of Patel’s arrest evoked memories of an infamous 2018 crash in Mendocino County that killed five children and two adults. Authorities determined after an investigation and inquest that a married couple from Washington, Jennifer and Sarah Hart, had died by suicide and killed their six adopted children in the crash.
The Devil’s Slide crash remains under investigation; anyone with information for the CHP San Francisco area office can call 415-557-1094.
If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Reach the lifeline at 988 or 800-273-8255, or see the 988lifeline.org website.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
