Featured Image Credit: San Mateo County Sheriff's Office
Topics: Tesla, California, Mental Health, News, US News
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Tesla, California, Mental Health, News, US News
A father-of-two who drove his Tesla carrying his wife and kids off a cliff will not face further jail time.
In January 2023, California radiologist Dharmesh Patel veered the vehicle off the road and over the cliff known as 'Devil's Side'.
Patel, 42, had his wife and two young children - aged four and seven at the time - in the car with him at the time of the ordeal and, by means of a miracle, all four of them survived.
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Speaking after the incident, Patel's wife said that he'd driven off the cliff intentionally.
She's reported to have told police officers: "He drove off. He’s depressed. He’s a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He drove off on purpose."
Patel went on to be charged with three counts of attempted murder - which he pleaded not guilty to.
The radiologist went on to request a mental health diversion.
While facing charges that could land him behind bars for decades, his wife Neha expressed her desire to have her husband return home so their family could be 'restored'.
She said: “I am pleading with the court to grant him his mental health diversion.
"We need him in our lives and it has been over a year and a half since my children or I have seen or spoken to Dharmesh. We are not a family without him."
Neha added: "The mental health treatment will not only restore him back to himself, but will restore our family."
And Neha's pleas have since been answered, as Patel has been granted a mental health diversion.
San Mateo Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski has said that Patel is eligible for such diversion because of his mental health condition.
"Weighing all factors, the court determined the defendant was suitable and granted the defense request for mental health diversion," read a release from the district attorney's office.
While the DA opposed the idea of granting a diversion, it's down to the court to decide under California law.
Patel will now continue to be held in jail for several weeks before being released to his parents' home in San Mateo County, NBC News reports.
He will only be permitted to leave their home to attend his treatment program or for court hearings. Meanwhile, he will also have to wear a GPS monitor as well as surrender his driving license and passport.
A hearing regarding the mental health diversion is scheduled for July 1.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.