Attempted murder charges against Pasadena radiologist Dharmesh Patel have been dismissed after he completed a mental health diversion program following a 2023 crash where he drove his Tesla off a cliff.
BELMONT, CA – In a case that captured national attention, attempted murder charges against Pasadena radiologist Dharmesh Patel have been dismissed after he successfully completed a court-approved mental health diversion program. This decision concludes the criminal proceedings stemming from a January 2023 incident in which prosecutors alleged Patel deliberately drove his family’s Tesla off a cliff in Northern California.
Patel, 45, faced three counts of attempted murder following the crash at Devil’s Slide along the Pacific Coast Highway. Inside the vehicle at the time were his wife, Neha Patel, and their two young children. Remarkably, all four family members survived the plunge, which was approximately 250 feet.
In August 2024, a San Mateo County judge approved Patel’s entry into California’s mental health diversion program, allowing him to undergo treatment instead of facing continued criminal prosecution. Throughout the program, Patel received psychiatric care, participated in family therapy, and provided regular updates to the court while living with his parents in Belmont.
This week, the San Mateo County Superior Court dismissed the charges against Patel following his successful completion of the two-year program, as confirmed by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe expressed that prosecutors had opposed the diversion, believing the allegations were too severe. They argued that Patel acted with premeditation in attempting to harm his wife, children, and himself. However, once Patel met all the requirements of the diversion program, the court had no legal grounds to object to the dismissal.
Patel remained in custody from the time of the crash until he entered the diversion program. During court proceedings, several psychologists testified that he was experiencing a psychotic episode due to major depressive disorder at the time of the incident. The court had previously heard that Patel feared for his family’s future and held irrational beliefs, including concerns that his children could become victims of sex trafficking.
Following the crash, Patel’s wife informed first responders that he had intentionally driven the vehicle off the roadway, further complicating the case against him.
Prior to the incident, Patel was employed as a radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills. While the criminal charges were pending, the Medical Board of California obtained a court order that prevented him from practicing medicine, and he ultimately surrendered his medical license. The board has not clarified whether the dismissal of the criminal charges will impact his ability to seek reinstatement.
California established its mental health diversion program in 2018 to allow eligible defendants whose mental illness contributed to an alleged offense to receive treatment instead of facing prosecution. This program has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Just last week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation that grants judges broader authority to deny diversion requests if they determine a defendant poses a risk to public safety.
Had the crash resulted in a fatality, Patel could have faced a potential sentence of 25 years to life for first-degree murder. Instead, he exits the case without a criminal conviction after fulfilling the requirements of court-ordered treatment, marking a significant conclusion to a case that has drawn widespread attention.
According to Source Name.