No jail for Indian-origin doctor who drove Tesla off cliff in US with family in it

An Indian-origin California-based radiologist who intentionally drove his car off a 330-foot cliff with his family inside it will not stand trial. Dharmesh Patel — a father of two children, 4 and 7 — will be reunited with his family as the court understood it was one of his mental health episodes.

A court granted 42-year-old Patel a mental health diversion because of evidence that he has major depressive disorder, NBC News quoted the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office as saying.

On January 2, 2023, the Indian-origin radiologist drove his car off the Pacific Coast Highway and over a 330-foot cliff at Devil’s Slide in San Mateo County. His wife and two children were in the car. All the four in the car survived the crash.

In hospital, Patel’s family allegedly told paramedics that “he tried to kill us”, according to a Daily Mail report, but his wife later begged authorities to let her husband come home.

His wife, Neha Patel, pleaded with prosecutors to drop the attempted murder charges against Dharmesh.

Neha Patel’s emotional testimony in court highlighted the pain the family was enduring. She told the court that their young son was asking her, “When’s Daddy coming home?”

Charged with three counts of attempted murder, Dharmesh Patel was lodged in a jail.

Patel pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder.

The court will determine the details of Patel’s release on July 1.

San Mateo Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski determined that Patel qualified for mental health diversion due to his condition, stating that the proposed treatment plan would effectively address his needs, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office.

“Weighing all factors, the court determined the defendant was suitable and granted the defense request for mental health diversion,” the release said.