San Mateo County D.A. Mulls Charges In Tesla Cliff-Plunge: Report

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Prosecutors have no yet determined whether to pursue criminal proceedings against a Southern California man accused of intentionally plunging his wife and two children from a coastal Peninsula cliff earlier this year, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

All four survived the 250-foot plunge after what authorities called a “miracle” rescue.

Dharmesh A. Patel, 40 of Pasadena, was arrested Jan. 3 on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse, the California Highway Patrol said.

Patel and his 41-year-old wife suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were in critical condition as of early last week.

Both their children, a 4-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy, were unharmed, authorities said.

Patel is employed as a radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, according to multiple published reports.

Patel remains hospitalized at Stanford for injuries suffered in the crash, according to the report, which notes that although prosecutors typically have 48 hours to charge a suspect after they are arrested, Patel’s hospitalization buys the DA Office more time.

“Over the course of the next week, we will review the police reports, determine whether any further investigation needs to be completed and then a decision will be made whether to file criminal charges against Mr. Patel,” San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told The Chronicle

“Mr. Patel remains in the hospital and we have not been given any timeline for when the doctors will deem him fit for release and booking into the county jail.”

The CHP issued a statement at the time of Patel’s arrest indicating the crash was no accident.

“Based on the evidence collected, investigators developed probable cause to believe this incident was an intentional act,” the CHP said in a news release.

"There has been no determination as to what driving mode the Tesla was in; however, that does not appear to be a contributing factor in this incident," the CHP said.

The Tesla sedan plummeted more than 250 feet from the highway and crashed into a rocky outcropping.

It appears to have flipped a few times before landing on its wheels, wedged against the cliff just feet from the surf, according to Brian Pottenger, a battalion chief for Coastside Fire Protection District/Cal Fire.

— Bay City News and The Associated Press contributed to this report

Read more in The San Francisco Chronicle