Judge Rules for Mental Health Diversion Program for California Man Who Drove Family off Cliff

A California judge has ruled that a doctor who drove his family off a 300-foot cliff on the “Devil’s Slide” should enter a mental health diversion program instead of facing a criminal trial. Dharmesh Patel, the man accused of the incident, is believed to have suffered a mental health episode when he crashed his family Tesla off the freeway in January 2023, landing on a rocky beach near San Francisco. Despite the severity of the accident, Patel, his wife and their two young children survived.

Patel was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder. However, despite wanting him to undergo mental health treatment, prosecutors originally sought a mistrial because they suspected the crash was a deliberate murder-suicide. Family members, including Patel’s wife, did not want him to face a criminal trial and preferred that he receive mental health treatment instead.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that a doctor diagnosed Patel with schizoaffective disorder while defense experts diagnosed him with major depressive disorder. The judge based her decision on Patel’s desire to continue psychiatric treatment and the support system he had around him, ruling that he should undergo a two-year mental health program. If Patel successfully completes the program, the charges against him will be dropped; however, he will remain in custody until his next court hearing on July 1st. After his release, Patel will be required to live at his parents’ home in San Mateo County as part of court-ordered conditions.