CNN
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A California father has been charged with three counts of tried homicide after he allegedly drove a automotive off an oceanside cliff together with his spouse and two youngsters inside earlier this month, prosecutors stated in court docket Monday.
Prosecutors accuse Dharmesh Patel, 41, of deliberately steering his Tesla off a portion of the Pacific Coast Freeway known as Satan’s Slide, sending the household plunging about 250 ft to a rocky seashore under. All 4 relations survived the crash.
Two of the three counts towards Patel include home violence and nice bodily harm enhancements, San Mateo County District Lawyer Steve Wagstaffe stated throughout a information convention Monday.
Patel’s spouse continues to be hospitalized after struggling “main accidents” and the couple’s 7-year-old youngster was additionally injured, Wagstaffe stated, although the extent of the kid’s accidents are unclear.
“Miraculously although, the four-year-old got here out with just a few bruises, and that doesn’t qualify for vital bodily harm,” Wagstaffe stated, explaining why the enhancements have been left off the third cost.
Although the victims weren’t named within the charging paperwork, the California Freeway Patrol beforehand stated the passengers of the automobile have been the driving force’s spouse and two youngsters.
Patel appeared in San Mateo County court docket Monday and didn’t enter a plea, which he’s anticipated to offer at his subsequent court docket look on February 9.
Superior court docket choose Jeffrey Finigan ordered Patel be held with out bail. Patel’s legal professional Joshua Bentley stated he plans to convey a movement on bail at a later date. Bentley declined to talk with CNN concerning the matter.
Investigators are nonetheless trying into Patel’s motive however really feel there may be sufficient proof from surveillance cameras and eyewitness accounts to show that his actions on January 2 have been intentional, Wagstaffe stated. The spouse additionally gave an “incriminating” assertion to first responders on the scene, he stated, however didn’t share additional particulars.
Investigators haven’t been capable of communicate with Patel’s spouse as a result of her legal professional is declining interviews till she is “bodily prepared to take action,” Wagstaffe stated.
Finigan denied prosecutors’ request for a no-contact order, as an alternative granting them a no-harassment order which permits Patel to contact his spouse and kids, however it should be “peaceable and non-threatening,” the district legal professional stated.
There isn’t any indication right now that Patel’s Tesla malfunctioned on the time of the incident, however the state freeway patrol is inspecting the automotive to find out if there have been any points, the district legal professional stated. Prosecutors anticipate that course of to take a number of months, he added.
Patel has been hospitalized for the reason that crash, Wagstaffe stated, however prosecutors have been knowledgeable Friday that he was being discharged and booked into jail.
Whereas the household lives in Pasadena, it seems they have been within the space visiting household on the time of the incident, he stated.
