After Arresting Dharmesh Patel, Investigators Now Checking To See If Tesla Had Mechanical Issues
LOS ANGELES, CA (IANS) – Investigations are on to explore whether a Tesla car crash earlier this month, involving an Indian American and his family, occurred due to mechanical issues in the car, the San Mateo County district attorney said.
Police had initially arrested Dharmesh Patel on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse for allegedly intentionally driving the sedan, with his wife and two children inside, off a 250-foot California cliff.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said they are also investigating whether the crash could have been caused due to an issue with the car.
“Did the brakes fail? Were the brakes working? Were there any other mechanical malfunctions that would have led to him (Patel) not being able to stop the vehicle? “We’re having the car looked at from top to bottom,” Wagstaffe told the Los Angeles Times, adding that prosecutors are still in the early stages of the investigation.
The crash occurred on January 2 when Patel was driving the car on State Route 1 with his wife and two children, when it went over the cliff at Devil’s Slide, south of the Tom Lantos Tunnels, and landed near the water’s edge.
It flipped and landed on its wheels, the California Highway Patrol had said.
“Based on the evidence collected, investigators developed probable cause to believe this incident was an intentional act,” the CHP had said in a statement.
Patel has since been transferred to San Mateo Medical Center, Wagstaffe told The Times.
He is a radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Pasadena and according to his neighbors, Patel is a “great guy”.
Feroza
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Last Sunday’s NYT magazine had an article about the many problems with Tesla’s auto-driving AI, and the number of crashes that have resulted because of software that cannot recognize out-of-the-ordinary driving situations. The investigation needs to focus on Tesla.
January 27, 2023Desi Ameri
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If the family was white would the police have arrested the driver?
January 27, 2023Maneck Bhujwala
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Why would he intentionally drive over the cliff if he himself could get killed ?
January 27, 2023VIJAY
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No matter what you say or think, racism in institutionalized in this country. We have fight it at every step f the way. The good news is that you can fight it!
January 27, 2023VJ
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Racisms, pure and simple. If these were white guys the injured family would have been celebrated for the miracle of surviving.
January 27, 2023Sulochina
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Sulochina REPLY
January 27, 2023I had a severe accident with Tesla, when I accelerated, it zoomed SO FAST, and turned and hit a pole , and the battery [ which is at the bottom
of the car was damaged]. The car was totaled!
pemba
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Nothing wrong with Tesla, the fault with driver,
April 28, 2023after thorough investigation, we will come to know,
It is ridiculous to mention racism when accident happens.