Dharmesh Patel, who drove his Tesla off a cliff with his family inside, has been granted mental health diversion, allowing him to avoid trial for attempted murder charges in San Mateo County.

The court's decision comes despite opposition from the district attorney's office, which argued for a trial on three counts of attempted murder. Patel, diagnosed with major depressive disorder, will participate in a two-year psychiatric diversion program that includes weekly court reporting and compliance tests. This ruling mandates strict conditions, including abstaining from substances, surrendering his driver’s license and passport, and wearing a GPS monitor. Successful completion of the program could result in all charges being dropped, while Patel remains under various restrictions, including prohibition from practicing medicine.

The incident occurred on January 2, 2023, at Devil’s Slide in San Mateo County when Dharmesh Patel, a radiologist from California, drove his Tesla off a steep cliff. Patel's wife and two children, ages 4 and 7, were also in the vehicle. Miraculously, all family members survived the crash.

Following the incident, Patel was charged with three counts of attempted murder, but his defense team presented evidence that he was suffering from major depressive disorder at the time of the crash. The court ultimately determined that Patel was eligible for the mental health diversion program, a decision opposed by the district attorney's office, who had pushed for a trial.

Judge Susan Jakubowski granted the mental health diversion, meaning Patel will avoid standing trial in exchange for participating in a rigorous two-year psychiatric program. This program requires Patel to report to court once a week and undergo medication compliance testing twice a week. He must also abstain from alcohol and drugs, surrender his driver’s license and passport, and wear a GPS monitor. Patel will remain in jail for several weeks before being released to his parents' house in San Mateo County. Additionally, due to a protective order, he cannot contact his wife or children.

Due to the conditions of the diversion program, Patel is prohibited from contacting his wife and children under a protective order. Additionally, he is barred from practicing medicine while he completes the program.

Patel's attorney argued that his client's actions were a result of a severe mental health crisis and that the diversion program would provide him with the necessary treatment and support.

As part of the diversion program, Patel will remain in jail for several weeks before being released to his parents' home in San Mateo County.

If Patel successfully completes the two-year diversion program, all charges against him will be dropped. However, failure to comply with any of the program's conditions could result in his return to court to face the original charges.

This case has drawn significant public attention and highlighted the complexities involved in balancing judicial proceedings with considerations of mental health. The decision to grant Patel a mental health diversion reflects a focus on addressing underlying issues that may have contributed to the incident.

The district attorney’s office, while respecting the court’s decision, reiterated their opposition to it, emphasizing the severity of the charges and the potential danger posed by Patel’s actions. They maintain that Patel should have been brought to trial.

As the case progresses and Patel engages with the diversion program, authorities and the public will be watching closely to see if this approach proves effective in addressing both his mental health needs and the broader concerns about public safety.