San Mateo County prosecutors filed charges Monday against the Pasadena man who was driving a Tesla carrying his wife and children when it crashed off a cliff near Devil's Slide, alleging that the crash was an attempt to kill his family.
Dharmesh A. Patel, 41, faces three counts of attempted murder with enhancements for great bodily injury and domestic violence, according to San Mateo County court records.
Patel was moved into the Maguire Correctional Facility on Friday after he was released from a hospital, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. Patel had been hospitalized since the Jan. 2 crash.
Patel, his wife and two children miraculously survived the plunge down a 250-foot oceanside cliff south of Pacifica. Authorities said soon after the crash that Patel's wife and children were in serious but stable condition, but their status has not been updated publicly since that time.
The California Highway Patrol said after the crash that investigators had "developed probable cause to believe the incident was an intentional act." Patel was officially booked on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse the day after the crash, while he was still hospitalized.
In a news release, the CHP said Tesla's auto-assistance features did "not appear to be a contributing factor" in the incident. The Bay Area-based automaker has faced legal and public scrutiny after high-profile crashes in regards to its self-driving features.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment