Depressed doctor walks free as judge dismisses attempted murder charges two years after medic drove his Tesla off cliff with his wife and young children inside

Published: 18:04, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 18:20, 7 July 2026 A radiologist accused of intentionally driving his Tesla off a California seaside cliff with his wife and two young children inside will avoid jail time after all charges were dismissed. Dharmesh Arvind Patel, 43, of Pasadena, had faced three counts of attempted murder after prosecutors said he deliberately drove the family's car off the notorious Devil’s Slide section of Highway 1 in San Mateo County, California, on January 2, 2023.  Patel, his wife Neha, their seven-year-old daughter, and four-year-old son were pulled from the mangled vehicle by a rescue operation involving firefighters, paramedics, and a Coast Guard helicopter. Against extraordinary odds, his family survived the drastic 250-foot plunge, though Patel, his wife, and one of their children sustained serious injuries. In 2024, after reviewing evidence on the case, a San Mateo County judge found Patel 'eligible and suitable' for California's mental health diversion, which allows eligible defendants to avoid prosecution if they successfully complete court-approved treatment.   Judge Sharon Cho issued the dismissal at a hearing on Monday morning after Patel completed the two-year court-ordered diversion, which included medication, therapy, regular health evaluations, and GPS monitoring.  Police say at the time of the crash Patel and his family were in the Bay Area to visit relatives over the holidays. The family had been traveling south on Highway 1, driving the scenic 62-mile stretch from Pacifica to Santa Cruz, when the Tesla suddenly left the road without any apparent attempt to brake before plunging down the cliff face. Doctor Dharmesh Avind Patel, who drove his Tesla off Highway 1 on the San Mateo County coast with his family inside, will avoid jail time, announced prosecutors on Monday Patel had been charged with three counts of attempted murder after prosecutors said he was behind the wheel when the car veered off Highway 1 just south of Devil’s Slide in San Mateo County on January 2, 2023 Patel's wife Neha and their two chidren, who are seven and four, were in the car at the time of the crash but remain alive after being rescued by first responders Rescue crews descended the steep embankment while helicopters lifted the injured family members to safety.  Patel was arrested after leaving the hospital and charged with three counts of attempted murder, one for his wife and one for each of their children. Prosecutors alleged he had deliberately driven off the cliff in an attempt to kill his family and himself. Patel initially blamed the crash on tire pressure problems on his 2021 Tesla Model Y. However, court documents revealed Patel’s wife told investigators he had been suffering from depression in the weeks leading up to the crash. She reportedly said there had been no mechanical failure and told first responders she believed he intentionally drove over the cliff after saying he was going to do so. The allegations shocked the Bay Area, where Patel had worked as a radiologist and was known as a respected physician. During lengthy court hearings, his defense attorneys did not dispute that he drove off the cliff but argued he was experiencing a severe mental health crisis that left him incapable of forming criminal intent.   Patel pleaded under the California Mental Health Division Law in 2024, stating he was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the crash and that the incident was not calculated. However his wife revealed to first responders at the time that it was deliberate All criminal charges were dropped on Monday when the case was revisited after Patel had completing a two year course of supervised treatment, that were the grounds for his release Psychiatrists diagnosed Patel with a major depressive disorder and testified that Patel had experienced paranoid delusions in the weeks leading up to the incident and was undergoing an acute psychiatric episode profoundly impairing his judgment. His wife Neha publicly urged the court to prioritize treatment over incarceration, telling the judge she believed her husband could recover and that she wanted their family reunited. In emotional testimony, she described her husband as 'a devoted father whose life had been consumed by mental illness.' Yet, San Mateo County prosecutors argued the seriousness of the allegations should disqualify Patel from diversion, insisting a man accused of attempting to murder his own wife and children should stand trial before a jury. After hearing testimony from multiple psychiatric experts, the court ruled Patel met the legal requirements for diversion. The decision placed the criminal case on hold in 2024 while Patel underwent intensive psychiatric treatment under strict judicial supervision. Following Monday's confirmation that Patel had completed treatment, the court dismissed the criminal case, returned his passport, and ordered the records sealed. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, who had fiercely opposed diversion from the outset, acknowledged the court was obligated to dismiss the case once Patel completed treatment, though he continues to disagree with the law. The prosecutor has long argued that attempted murder should not qualify for mental health diversion, warning that defendants accused of extremely violent crimes should still face trial. The Daily Mail has reached out to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office for comment.