An Indian-American doctor in the state of California will undergo mental health treatment instead of serving jail time after driving his Tesla off a cliff with his wife and two young children in January last year.
US psychologists testified that Dharmesh Patel, who was described as having “suicidal” tendencies, suffered from schizoaffective disorder and major depressive disorder, leading him to believe his family was at risk of being sex trafficked.
In April, two doctors testified in court that Patel suffered from major depressive disorder and experienced a psychotic break during the incident on Jan. 2, 2023. The Tesla Model Y plummeted off the 250-foot cliff known as “Devil’s Slide” on Highway 1 and landed on the shore of the Pacific Ocean.
Patel, his wife Neha, and their two children — a 7-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son — all survived. Initially charged with three counts of attempted murder, Patel pleaded not guilty, claiming the Tesla malfunctioned and careened off the cliff. However, his wife later testified she did not wish to see him prosecuted.
On Thursday, a US court approved Patel for a “mental health diversion” programme, which allows defendants with significant mental illness involvement in their crimes to receive treatment rather than imprisonment, the New York Post reported.
Superior Court Judge Susan M. Jakubowski ruled based on medical evaluations and released Patel to his parents’ custody in California. He will be monitored with GPS, require weekly court check-ins, and must surrender his license and passport. The next hearing is scheduled for July 1.
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