Pasadena Doctor Accused of Driving Family Off Cliff Requests Mental Health Treatment Instead of Prison

A Pasadena doctor, Dharmesh Patel, is seeking a mental health diversion program instead of prison after being accused of attempting to kill his family by driving his Tesla off Pacific Coast Highway in Northern California.

The incident occurred on January 3 near California Highway 1, when Patel drove the vehicle off Devil’s Slide with his wife and two children in the car. All occupants survived the crash.

Patel, 41, has been charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder. His lawyers are citing his major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis as the basis for the mental health diversion request, arguing that his mental condition played a significant role in what happened.

Under California law, a suspect’s mental disorder must be a “significant factor” in the criminal act to be eligible for the program. If successfully completed, charges may be dropped and the arrest expunged. While murder and voluntary manslaughter suspects are generally excluded from the diversion program, attempted murder is not explicitly ruled out. The court would ultimately decide whether to reinstate the previous charges after the program’s completion.

Patel’s wife, Neha Patel, has stated in an affidavit obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle that her husband told the family of his intention to drive off the cliff. She attributes the act to his depression and claims he drove off purposely.

Witnesses at the scene reported that the vehicle did not appear to brake before it careened off the road, and Neha Patel allegedly told first responders that her husband intentionally drove off the cliff, according to multiple media reports.

First responders used hydraulic rescue tools, commonly known as “jaws of life,” to extract the family members from the mangled Tesla. Official sources said at the time the 4-year-old son was uninjured, while Patel’s daughter sustained serious injuries but quickly recovered. 

Neha Patel suffered the most serious injuries, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

The defense team argues that the incident resulted from tire issues with Patel’s Tesla Model Y, claiming a tire malfunction caused an uncontrollable loss of control. However, witness accounts and Neha Patel’s statement contradict this explanation, according SF-ist.

A judge has scheduled a follow-up session to determine Patel’s eligibility for the mental health diversion program, a process that can take several months.  He remains in custody.