A vehicle was reported to have fallen over the cliff side on SR-1, just south of the Tom Lantos tunnels. The officers were dispatched to the area on January 2, 2023 at 10:50 AM.
Officers from the CHP and other emergency personnel arrived at the scene and saw the vehicle, a white Tesla, approximately 250-300 feet down the cliff. The emergency personnel repelled down to the vehicle and found four occupants, two adults and two juveniles. After being rescued from the vehicle, the occupants were taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.
Throughout the night, CHP investigators interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence from the scene. The investigators developed probable cause to believe that the incident was deliberate based on the evidence collected.
It was reported that Dharmesh A. Patel, of Pasadena, California, was under arrest for attempted murder and abuse of a child. He was the driver of the Tesla that drove the vehicle off of the cliff.
Currently, it is unclear what driving mode the Tesla was in; however, that does not appear to have played a role in this incident.
Although he is currently recovering from his injuries at the hospital, Patel will be booked into San Mateo County Jail after he is discharged. The investigation is still ongoing.