Charges against US dad who drove family off cliff dropped after mental health treatment

All charges against Dharmesh Patel, a radiologist accused of driving his family off a cliff in Northern California, have been dismissed. Patel was charged with attempted murder after he drove his Tesla off a 276-meter cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway on January 2, 2023, injuring his wife and two young children. All four survived the incident. A San Mateo County judge dismissed the charges on Monday after Patel successfully completed a two-year mental health diversion program. This program involved treatment with a Stanford University psychiatrist and a family therapist.

All charges against Dharmesh Patel, a radiologist accused of driving his family off a cliff in San Mateo County, California, have been dismissed. A judge made this decision after Patel successfully completed a two-year mental health diversion program. In January 2023, Patel drove his Tesla off a 250-foot cliff, resulting in injuries to his wife and two young children, though all four survived. His defense argued he was experiencing major depression with hallucinations at the time, qualifying him for the mental health diversion program. Prosecutors opposed the diversion, and the District Attorney's office plans to advocate for changes to the law to exclude attempted murder from such programs. Patel's wife testified that she had forgiven him and did not wish for his prosecution.