Man Who Drove Family Off Cliff in Tesla to Receive Mental Health Treatment

Following a tragic incident in Northern California, a man who was initially facing charges for attempting to murder his family will be receiving mental health treatment rather than standing trial, according to court records.

The man, identified as Dharmesh A. Patel, had pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder after his Tesla went off a cliff with him, his wife, and their two children on January 2, 2023. Fortunately, all four individuals survived after being rescued from the wreckage by emergency workers.

Mental Health Diversion

On Thursday, Mr. Patel was deemed eligible for a mental health diversion, which is a provision allowing individuals facing criminal charges to undergo mental health treatment instead of prosecution. This postpones the prosecution while the defendant receives treatment and may result in the dismissal of charges entirely.

Court Determination

Judge Susan M. Jakubowski of Superior Court in San Mateo County made the decision based on a diagnosis of "major depressive disorder" that was deemed to have contributed to Mr. Patel's actions, as stated in a news release from San Mateo County.

As part of the program, Mr. Patel will spend several weeks in jail before being released to his parents' residence in Belmont, California. While there, he will be monitored via GPS and required to report to court weekly. Additionally, he is prohibited from leaving San Mateo County and must surrender his driver’s license and passport.