Driver who plunged Tesla off California cliff with family inside pleads not guilty to attempted murder

REDWOOD CITY — A Tesla driver accused of making an attempt to kill his spouse and two younger kids by driving off a Northern California cliff pleaded not responsible on Thursday to tried homicide and home violence.

A decide ordered Dharmesh Patel, 41, of Pasadena, held with out bail.

Patel was critically injured on Jan. 2 when the automotive plunged 250 ft (76 meters) off the cliff at Satan’s Slide alongside the Pacific Coast Freeway south of San Francisco.

Firefighters have been pressured to chop the household — together with Patel’s 41-year-old spouse, and 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son, whose names haven’t been launched — out of the wreckage. Each kids have been hospitalized with critical accidents. Patel additionally faces enhancements for excellent bodily harm, San Mateo County District Legal professional Steve Wagstaffe mentioned in an announcement.

“We do consider the proof establishes the mandatory intent to kill,” Wagstaffe advised the San Francisco Chronicle.

The realm in San Mateo County is understood for deadly wrecks, and rescuers initially hailed the household’s survival as a miracle. Nonetheless, Patel was later arrested after California Freeway Patrol investigators “developed possible trigger to consider this incident was an intentional act,” the company mentioned.

Authorities have not disclosed a doable motive for the crash.

At Thursday’s listening to, a decide barred Patel from contacting his spouse and youngsters.

He’s charged with three counts of tried homicide and home violence. He might face life in jail if convicted.

Within the months earlier than the crash, Patel was working as a health care provider at Windfall Holy Cross Medical Heart within the Mission Hills neighborhood north of Los Angeles.