New York: An Indian-origin man who drove a Tesla and plunged it 250 feet off a treacherous cliff in northern California, injuring his two young children and his wife, has been released from the hospital and moved to a local jail, according to media reports.
Dharmesh A Patel, was released from the hospital and taken into custody without bail and could be arraigned if the San Mateo District Attorney’s Office decides to file criminal charges. The 41-year-old man is being held on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse.
The District office didn’t indicate when he was released from the hospital.
All four occupants of the Tesla survived the crash on January 2 after the car plunged 250 to 300 feet into a rocky beach area known as Devil’s Slide, about 20 miles south of San Francisco. According to Patel’s arrest report, the other occupants of the car were a 41-year-old female, a 7-year-old female and a 4-year-old male.
After the accident, California Highway Patrol received a call about a vehicle plunging over a cliff on Highway 1, south of the Tom Lantos tunnels, as per ABC News. Officers and additional emergency personnel arrived at the scene and saw a white Tesla about 250 to 300 feet down the cliff, according to CHP. Emergency personnel rappelled down to the vehicle and were able to swiftly bring the occupants of the car up the cliff by cutting the vehicle.
Image courtesy of (Image courtesy: Bay Area Fire Fighter/Facebook)