The Tesla driver who threw his family off a cliff in California did it on purpose, officials say.

On Tuesday, officials said a California man deliberately knocked a Tesla off a 250-foot cliff in an attempt to kill his family.

The driver, his wife and children survived and were rescued Monday on Devil’s Hill in San Mateo County, the California Highway Patrol said.

Dharmesh Arvind Patel, 41, of Pasadena, has been arrested and will be prosecuted on charges of attempted murder and child abuse as soon as he leaves the hospital, according to Highway Patrol.

Four people were rescued after the Tesla fell off a cliff in California on Monday.
Four people were rescued after the Tesla fell off a cliff in California on Monday.KNTV

The rescue involved firefighters who climbed down a cliff to rescue two children, aged 4 and 7, and a helicopter crew who rescued two adults from a car, officials said.

Tesla was at a depth of 250 to 300 feet, according to CHP.

“Based on the evidence gathered, investigators have probable grounds for believing that this incident was a deliberate act,” the agency said in a statement.

Brian Pottenger, chief of emergency operations for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said witnesses called 911 after the crash around 10:50 a.m.

He said it is “very, very rare” for people to survive such a steep fall, and child car seats may have saved their lives.

“In fact, we were very shocked when we found the surviving victims in the car. So it was an encouraging moment for us,” Pottenger said.

The car was traveling south on State Route 1 when it skidded off a cliff at Devil’s Hill, south of the Tom Lantos Tunnels, and landed at the water’s edge, the fire department said. It rolled over and landed on its wheels.

According to Pottenger, the children had moderate injuries.

Authorities plan to prosecute Patel on three counts of attempted murder and two counts of child abuse, Officer Andrew Barclay, a spokesman for the Golden Gate IRP, said.

On Tuesday evening it was not immediately clear whether Patel had a lawyer who could act on his behalf.

In 2018, in Mendocino County, on the coast of California, two women and six of their adopted children died in a cliffside crash that authorities believe was deliberate.

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