Father accused of intentionally driving family off cliff asks court for mental health diversion to avoid prison
Topics: Crime, Mental Health, US News, Tesla
Emily Brown
Featured Image Credit: Facebook / San Mateo County Sheriff's Office
Topics: Crime, Mental Health, US News, Tesla
A doctor who has been accused of attempting to kill his family by driving off a cliff has asked for a mental health diversion to avoid jail time.
Dharmesh Patel, 42, was driving in a Tesla with his wife, Neha Patel, and two children when it drove off a cliff known as 'Devil's Slide' in California on January 2.
All four family members survived the incident, but afterwards Patel's wife claimed he had told the family he was going to drive off the cliff.
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In an affidavit obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, Neha was quoted as saying: "He drove off. He’s depressed. He’s a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off."
California Highway Patrol Officer Aaron Sapien added in a probable cause document that while Neha was being rescued, she told an emergency worker 'something to the effect that the driver, her husband Dharmesh Patel, did it on purpose'.
"She then told him that her husband needs a psych evaluation," the document said.
Patel has insisted his Tesla Model Y was having tire issues when the incident took place, though a police report does not indicate a malfunction.
After the crash, first responders had to pull all of the family members from the Tesla using hydraulic rescue tools.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said all four people had to be extracted through the windows.
Patel was charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder, to which he has pled not guilty.
Now, his lawyers have asked the court to give him a mental health diversion due to a major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis.
Patel would have to provide the court with evidence of a history of the disorder, and in order for the diversion to be granted the mental illness in question must be treatable within the duration of the diversion.
In Patel's case, as he is facing felony charges, this would be two years.
The diversion program does not extend to suspects accused of murder or voluntary manslaughter, but it does not explicitly rule out attempted murder.
If granted, the mental health diversion would allow Patel to seek treatment, and potentially offer the chance to have his charges fully dismissed if he completes the program.
A hearing in July is set to decide whether Patel is eligible for the mental health diversion. If approved, a court would decide after the program is complete whether Patel's charges would be reinstated.