California Radiologist Tries to Kill Family by Driving Tesla Off Cliff
Investigators learned in January from Dharmesh Patel's wife, Neha Patel, that he "purposefully drove over" a cliff in his Tesla while carrying his family because he was "depressed." John Cowpland/Getty Images

A wife of a California radiologist said her husband allegedly tried to kill himself and his family by intentionally driving their Tesla off a cliff in San Mateo County.

The 41-year-old driver was identified as Dharmesh Arvind Patel of Pasadena. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said Patel, his wife, and their two children survived the January 2 crash along Highway 1 in San Mateo County.

The highway patrol noted that the Tesla vehicle was 250 to 300 feet down. Rescuers had to rappel down the cliff to get the two children, ages four and seven, while a helicopter crew rescued the couple from the vehicle.

According to a newly unsealed search warrant affidavit, Patel's wife told officers while aboard the helicopter: "He drove off. He's depressed. He's a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off."

San Mateo County District Attorney Steven Wagstaffe told KRON4 that several people heard the wife's statements, KTLA reported.

"There were multiple emergency people there who heard the statements as well as the CHP officer," Wagstaffe said.

However, the court documents showed that Patel narrated a different story. The California radiologist claimed he moved the Tesla to the "dirt path" to check on a possible flat tire.

He said it was a short distance before they fell down the cliff at Devil's Slide. In the affidavit, Patel mentioned feeling sad because "times were bad in the world," but denied being depressed.

When asked if he felt suicidal, he said, "You know, not like a plan, not usually." Three witnesses corroborated that the Tesla did not slow down as it traveled up the dirt road before the vehicle went off the cliff.

One witness noted that she did not see the vehicle braking or attempting to swerve to safety after turning right onto the dirt road and straight off the cliff.

Tesla Was Not on Autopilot at the Time of Accident, Authorities Say

According to Officer Mark Andrew of the CHP, it is unlikely that the Tesla involved in the accident was in autopilot mode when it plunged off the cliff.

The San Mateo County District Attorney's office told Fox News Digital that the children did not exhibit visible injuries.

The 7-year-old girl, who was properly restrained in a child seat, suffered "severe" injuries but was quickly discharged from the hospital and is not expected to have long-term physical complications, according to the DA's office.

Among the survivors, Wagstaffe noted that Dharmesh Arvind Patel's wife, Neha Patel, sustained the most severe injuries.

Surveillance video from the Tom Lantos Tunnel, which the California radiologist drove through before the crash, reportedly shows the Tesla going straight off the cliff without braking or trying to swerve to safety.

California Radiologist Pleads Not Guilty

Dharmesh Arvind Patel is facing charges of three counts of attempted murder to which he pleaded not guilty. He is currently being held without bond.

ABC News reported that a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 12 to determine if there is enough evidence to move forward with a trial. Investigators interviewed Patel while he was recovering from major lower body injuries at Stanford Hospital.

During the interview, he revealed that his wife was irritated shortly before the crash because she did not want to stop at his brother's house in San Mateo County before driving home to the Los Angeles area, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Wife Says Doctor Purposely Drove Tesla Over Cliff - From KRON 4