Radiologist gave neighbors plants before 'driving family off cliff' (2023)

Police visited the home of a Californian doctor charged with the attempted murderhis wife and their two young children by intentionally driving theirTeslaof the side of a 250ft cliff nine times since 2017.

Dr. Dharmesh A. Patel, 42, has been accused of intentionally trying to kill his wife Neha, 41, and their four-year-old son and seven-year old daughteron Monday after he plunged their car off the side of a cliff.

It has since emerged that cops were called Patel's family home in Pasadena nine times since 2017 in response toburglary alarms and reports of suspicious people in the vicinity.

The incidents were labeled by police as false alarms or canceled, according to records seen by the LA Times. The two suspicious person incidents were reported as 'gone on arrival.'

Footagefrom a neighbor's doorbell camera has also emerged showing Patel delivering neighbors flowers on Christmas Eve - just days before the crash.

Patel is accused of intentionally drivinghis white Tesla Model Y off a cliff known as Devil's Slideon Monday near San Francisco, during a trip north.

But this image of a happy family was dashed when Patel, a radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Pasadena, was accused of intentionally trying to kill his wife and two children.

Patel is accused of intentionally drivinghis white Tesla Model Y off a cliff known as Devil's Slideon Monday near San Francisco, during a trip north.

Miraculously, all four members of the family - Patel, his wife Neha and their kids aged four and seven - survived without any serious injuries.

The doctor and his family remain in Stanford Hospital and Patel will be booked into the San Mateo County jail on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse after he's released, the California Highway patrol said.

Now, details have emerged about what appeared to be the family's 'idyllic' lifestyle - Patel was often seen playing with his children and they sent out Christmas cards with their smiling family on the front.

'They're a beautiful, idyllic family, no indication of issues,' Roger Newmark, who has lived on the quiet cul-de-sac for more than 40 years, told the LA Times. 'It's so strange because he is a great guy. Maybe it was a moment of insanity.'

Police were also never called to domestic disturbances at the Patel home - but have been called to their address nine times since 2017 in response to burglary alarms and reports of suspicious people in the vicinity.

The incidents were labeled by police as false alarms or canceled, according to records seen by the LA Times.The two suspicious person incidents were reported as 'gone on arrival.'

Other than those reported incidents in 2017, life for the Patels appeared to be 'idyllic,' with their neighbors saying the couple were always keen to talk to them.

Video from a Ring camera, obtained by the LA Times, shows Patel delivering poinsettias to his neighbors on Christmas Eve. He was heard speaking to one woman who was house-sitting for a friend who had gone away for the festive season.

'I'm Dharmesh,' he told the woman, adding that he lived opposite, where his white Tesla was parked outside the garage. 'Can I just leave it [the poinsettia] at the front door?'

One neighbor, Sarah Walker, told the newspaper:'He's just so present. Dharmesh and I would wave 'Hi,' but he would always come over and have a conversation. He was always happy and ready to talk.'

Rescuers initially hailed the family's survival as a 'miracle' after the Tesla sedan plummeted down a notorious cliffside Monday along the Pacific Coast Highway near an area called Devil's Slide that's known for fatal wrecks.

Firefighters were forced to cut the family out of the wreckage. They used a rope system to haul the children up the cliff in a rescue basket while the parents were hoisted by helicopter.

Initially, there were questions over whether the car - which is famous for its self-driving technology - had gone rogue and taken the family off the road by mistake.

Now, some are asking whether the vehicle - which has airbags adjacent to the two front seats in addition to in front of them - actually saved them.

On Tuesday, police charged Patel with attempted homicide and child abuse, alleging that the incident was an attempted murder-suicide gone wrong.

The case brought back memories of a 2018 tragedy when a woman intentionally drove off another Northern California cliff in an SUV with her wife and their six adopted children. All were killed.

The crash in Mendocino County happened just days after authorities in Washington state opened an investigation following allegations that Jennifer Hart's children were being neglected.

Investigators are looking into Patel's motive and police would not say whether detectives have been able to interview him.

'I have no idea what his thought pattern was,' he said.

Investigators do not have to present the case to prosecutors until after Patel is booked into jail.

'They are not under the gun because the suspect Patel remains hospitalized and thus they can investigate the case more thoroughly,' San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said in a statement.

Patel is a doctor in radiology at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills area of Los Angeles.

'Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is deeply saddened to learn of a traffic incident involving one of our physicians and his family,' the statement said. 'We are extremely grateful there were no serious injuries. We will not respond further, as this incident is under investigation.'