Attempted murder charges have been dismissed against a California radiologist who drove his Tesla off a cliff with his wife and two young children inside, as a judge ruled he had successfully completed a two-year mental health diversion program. Dharmesh Arvind Patel, 43, of Pasadena, faced three counts of attempted murder following the January 2, 2023, incident on the Devil's Slide section of Highway 1 in San Mateo County.
Patel, his wife Neha, their seven-year-old daughter, and four-year-old son survived the 250-foot plunge, though Patel, his wife, and one child sustained serious injuries. They had been traveling from Pacifica to Santa Cruz when the vehicle veered off the road without apparent braking.
Prosecutors alleged Patel deliberately drove off the cliff, intending to kill his family and himself. Patel initially suggested a tire pressure issue, but his wife later told investigators he had been experiencing depression and believed he intentionally drove off the cliff. Psychiatrists diagnosed Patel with major depressive disorder and testified that he experienced paranoid delusions and was in an acute psychiatric episode that impaired his judgment.
Patel's defense attorneys argued he was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and lacked criminal intent. His wife publicly supported his diversion, emphasizing his devotion as a father and her belief in his recovery, urging the court to prioritize treatment over incarceration.
In 2024, a San Mateo County judge deemed Patel eligible for California's mental health diversion, a program allowing eligible defendants to avoid prosecution upon successful completion of court-approved treatment. This typically includes medication, therapy, health evaluations, and monitoring.
On Monday, Judge Sharon Cho dismissed the criminal case after confirming Patel had completed the two-year diversion. His passport was returned, and court records were ordered sealed. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, who had opposed diversion for attempted murder charges, acknowledged the court's obligation to dismiss the case upon completion of the program, though he continues to question the law's application in such serious cases.