Dharmesh Patel: Radiologist arrested for attempted murder-suicide after family survives horrific crash
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Dharmesh A Patel, who was in his Tesla car with his wife, and two children, before falling off a 300ft cliff, has been charged with attempted murder and child abuse. The accused works as a radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Pasadena. He was driving his white Tesla Model Y when he and his family plunged off a cliff, known as ‘Devil’s Slide’ on Monday, January 2, near San Francisco, while on a trip. On Tuesday, January 3, the authorities alleged that it was not an accident, but a failed murder-suicide attempt.
As of now, Patel is being kept in the San Mateo County Jail. It is also unclear whether his wife and the two children are still being kept in a hospital or have been released after their injuries were called non-life threatening. Miraculously, the family of four, Patel, his wife Neha, and their children aged 7, and, 4, survived without any serious injuries. Initially, it was believed the car which is known for its self-driving ability, may have gone rogue during the automatic driving mode, but the investigation suggests there are no such links. A few also believed that it could be possible that the adjacent airbags to the two front seats, plus two planted in front of them could have actually saved lives.
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While talking to CBS, the neighbors expressed their shock at the alleged murder-suicide attempt. Roger Newmark, who lives just a few doors down from the family on a leafy Pasadena Street said, “They're the sweetest couple and they have the greatest two little kids.” The hospital where Patel work as a radiologist released an official statement, and expressed their sadness on the incident, “Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is deeply saddened to learn of a traffic incident involving one of our physicians and his family. We are extremely grateful there were no serious injuries. We will not respond further, as this incident is under investigation.”
Tesla founder Elon Musk, also reacted to the news when it was revealed that everyone survived without any serious injuries, “Good news,” he tweeted. Immediately his fans started to appreciate the Tesla car built and how safe it is to drive one. The photographs taken of the impacted car by the Bay Area firefighter department were shared on their official Facebook page.
The cops believe that the vehicle flipped multiple times, before taking a single hit on the ground with wheels absorbing the first impact. “The damage to the vehicle would indicate that it hit, and then flipped several times,” said Brian Pottenger, battalion chief with Cal Fire's Coastside Fire Protection District, reports DailyMail.