The Father Accused Of Intentionally Driving His Family Off A Cliff Has Been Charged With Attempted Murder

After the crash, the family was trapped inside and presumed dead until firefighters spotted someone moving inside. A dramatic rescue effort was launched. 

“We were actually very shocked when we found survivable victims in the vehicle. So that actually was a hopeful moment for us,” CalFire battalion chief Brian Pottenger said.  

The California Highway Patrol initially believed that the crash was caused by the Tesla’s self-driving mode; however, based on the evidence collected, they quickly turned their attention to Patel.

“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,” a Jan. 3 statement read.

Patel is expected to appear in court on Feb. 9, according to booking records by the San Mateo County sheriff’s office.