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The incident occurred on January 2, when Dharmesh A. Patel, 41, was behind the wheel of his Tesla Model Y with his wife and two children, ages 4 and 7, and the vehicle went off a cliff along Highway 1 and plunged 250 feet below.
The family miraculously survived the crash, but they all sustained injuries.
Patel’s wife reportedly told paramedics at the scene, “He intentionally tried to kill us.”
Patel was charged with three counts of attempted murder and domestic violence stemming from the crash.
“(We) have sufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt” with or without Neha Patel’s cooperation… We believe the evidence will show him intentionally driving his family off a cliff with the intent to kill them, ” San Mateo County Chief Deputy DA Sean Gallagher said shortly after the incident.
Patel pleaded not guilty to the charges and was being held without bail. If convicted, he could face life in prison. Prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, even without Neha Patel’s cooperation, and believe that Patel intentionally tried to kill his family by driving them off a cliff.
Patel appeared in court in Redwood City on Thursday.
During the hearing, prosecutors asked the judge to issue a no-contact order to prevent Dharmesh A. Patel from contacting his wife and children. Patel’s attorney, Joshua Bentley, attempted to block the order by saying that Patel’s wife did not want prosecution.
“The witness in this matter does not want prosecution,” Bentley told the court.
However, prosecutors argued that the family needed protection, and the judge granted the no-contact order, barring Patel from personal or written contact with his family.
Patel is set to return to court on March 20 for a preliminary hearing.
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