*The California Highway Patrol said it’s a miracle that two adults and two children survived a 250-foot plunge off a California cliff in a Tesla in what was initially thought to be an accident. But now the driver of the vehicle has been charged with attempted murder and child abuse.
As NBC News reports, fire officials said the children, 4 and 9, were in car seats that “saved their lives.” A 41-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man were also injured in the incident.
According to the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit, the car was traveling on the Pacific Coast Highway when it went over the cliff at the infamous Devil’s Slide in San Mateo County. The Tesla flipped and landed on its wheels. Witnesses of the cliff-side crash called 911.
The two adults and two children were rushed “to a local hospital with serious injuries,” officials said.
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“We were actually very shocked when we found survivable victims in the vehicle. So that actually was a really hopeful moment for us,” Cal Fire/Coastside Fire Incident Commander Brian Pottenger said.
The CHP noted that Telsa’s self-drive feature was not a factor in the crash. After investigating into Tuesday morning, officials said “investigators developed probable cause to believe this incident was an intentional act.”
The driver of the white Tesla, Dharmesh Arvind Patel, was arrested on Monday at Stanford Hospital and charged with attempted murder, PEOPLE reports.
“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,” the CHP said.
Once Patel is discharged from the hospital, he will be booked at San Mateo County Jail.
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