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Indian-origin doctor cleared of driving family off cliff
The court dismissed the case after Patel completed a two-year mental health diversion program.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 08, Jul 2026
- 18:28 EDT
- 41
Representative image / Pexels
A California judge has dismissed attempted murder charges against an Indian-origin doctor accused of driving his wife and two children off a seaside cliff in 2023.
Dharmesh Patel, 45, was charged with attempted murder after he drove his Tesla off a 250-foot cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway known as "Devil's Slide," injuring his wife and two young children. All four survived the Jan. 2, 2023, crash.
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Defense attorneys said he had suffered a severe mental health crisis and was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Criminal proceedings were suspended in July 2024 after a judge approved Patel for California's mental health diversion program.
During the two-year program, Patel lived at his parents' home in Belmont under GPS monitoring, received psychiatric treatment, attended therapy sessions, and underwent twice-weekly medication compliance testing.
The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office said Patel successfully completed the diversion program under the supervision of a psychiatrist and a social worker leading to his charges being dismissed.
According to local media reports, San Mateo Judge Sharon Cho dismissed and sealed the case, lifted a no-contact order involving Patel's family, and ordered his passport returned.
The case drew national attention after investigators alleged the crash was intentional. Court records showed Patel's wife initially told first responders that he had deliberately driven off the cliff and had been struggling with depression. Prosecutors later said Patel had been experiencing paranoia and delusions in the weeks leading up to the crash.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, whose office opposed Patel's diversion request, has argued that defendants charged with attempted murder should not be eligible for California's mental health diversion program and has called for changes to the law.
A Bay Area radiologist, Patel also surrendered his medical license during the proceedings.
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