With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Pasadena Father Is Charged With Intentionally Plunging His Family Off A Northern California Cliff
A Tesla with four people inside crashed on the rocks over the cliffside off Highway 1 south of San Francisco on Monday. The driver has been arrested with intentionally driving the car off the cliff in an attempt to kill his family.
(
California Highway Patrol/Screenshot by NPR
)
A Tesla driver has been arrested and charged with intentionally driving off a cliff in Northern California in an attempt to kill his family, law enforcement officials said.
At about 10:50 a.m. local time Monday, officials received a report of a vehicle over the cliff side on Highway 1 about 20 miles south of downtown San Francisco, the California Highway Patrol said in a press release Tuesday. Inside the white Tesla, about 250 to 300 feet down a cliff next to the Pacific Ocean, were two children, a 4-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl, and two adults, both 41, who all survived.
Multiple agencies including the California Highway Patrol, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Coast Guard responded.
Sponsored message
Firefighters repelled down the cliff and rescued the children first, while a helicopter rescue technician was lowered to the scene and helped rescue the adults. A Stanford Life Flight helicopter transported the two adults to a local hospital, the Highway Patrol said.
"We come out here unfortunately all too often for things like this," Coastside Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Brian Pottenger told local TV station KTVU. "And this was nothing short of a miracle today that they survived."
Officials allege the incident was intentional, placing driver Dharmesh Patel of Pasadena, Calif., under arrest for attempted murder and child abuse.
"CHP investigators worked throughout the night interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence from the scene," the Highway Patrol said. "Based on the evidence collected, investigators developed probable cause to believe this incident was an intentional act."
Patel will be transported to San Mateo County Jail after he is released from the hospital.
It is unclear what driving mode the Tesla was in at the time of the crash, but officials say the driving mode "does not appear to be a contributing factor" in the incident.
"This remains an ongoing investigation and no further information is being released at this time," the Highway Patrol said.
Sponsored message
In 2018, a couple drove themselves and their six adopted children off a cliff north of San Francisco after fleeing their home following a visit from social services authorities. The children were being deprived of food by their parents, according to a complaint filed by their neighbors.
Mental Health Resources
Ask For Help
- Steinberg Institute website, links to mental health resources and care throughout California
- Institute on Aging's 24/7 Friendship Line (especially for people who have disabilities or are over 60), 1-800-971-0016 or call 415-750-4138 to volunteer.
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, 24/7 Access Line 1-800-854-7771.
- The Crisis Text Line, Text "HOME" (741-741) to reach a trained crisis counselor.
- California Psychological Association Find a Psychologist Locator
- Psychology Today guide to therapist
If You Need Immediate Help
- If you or someone you know is in crisis and need immediate help, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or go here for online chat.
More Guidance
- Find 5 Action Steps for helping someone who may be suicidal, from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
- Six questions to ask to help assess the severity of someone's suicide risk, from the Columbia Lighthouse Project.
- To prevent a future crisis, here's how to help someone make a safety plan.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit npr.org.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
