A judge “concluded the proper diagnosis” for the man “was major depressive disorder,” which qualified him for the diversion
The California man accused of driving his Tesla off a cliff with his family inside the vehicle will not face trial after a judge granted him a mental health diversion.
Dharmesh Patel, who faced three counts of attempted murder in 2023, was allowed mental health diversion on Thursday, June 20. This means that instead of going to trial, Patel will be released to seek necessary treatment, according to a statement from the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office. This statement was corroborated by news sources like KRON, CNN, and CBS News.
After examining all the evidence, the judge determined that “major depressive disorder” was the appropriate diagnosis for Patel’s mental condition, thus qualifying him for this specific legal diversion.
Although Patel will be released, it will take a few weeks. In the meantime, he will return to his parents’ home in Belmont but will still be closely monitored.
Patel will continue to be monitored via GPS and will only be allowed to leave his parent’s home for court appearances during the initial two months post-release. He will also face restrictions like a ban on driving and the use of alcohol and drugs.
The District Attorney’s Office had no immediate comment regarding this decision.
Patel had been accused of driving his family’s car off a 250-foot cliff at Devil’s Slide in January 2023. His wife Neha Patel and their two children—an 8-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son—were in the car at the time. Fortunately, while Neha and their daughter were injured, their son only suffered minor bruising.
Deputy District Attorney Dominique Davis previously argued against the mental health diversion, expressing concerns that Patel posed an “unreasonable risk of danger to public safety.”
The prosecution also referenced testimony from Dr. Yan Chan, who diagnosed Patel with schizoaffective disorder—a condition that can involve hallucinations, delusions, and mood disorder symptoms such as depression or mania. Concerns were raised about Patel’s ability to “mask” his illness.
However, Patel’s wife and his defense team advocated for mental health treatment instead of jail time. Neha Patel told the judge, “I am pleading with the court to grant him his mental health diversion,” arguing that it would benefit both Patel and their family.
Patel is slated to appear in court again on July 1.
