Outrage grows over San Mateo County judge’s decision to drop case against radiologist Dharmesh Patel after he completed diversion treatment.
A California radiologist accused of intentionally driving his Tesla off a steep coastal cliff with his wife and two young children inside has had all three attempted murder charges dismissed, simply because he reportedly did well in a court-ordered mental health program.
San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Sharon K. Cho dismissed the case against 45-year-old Dharmesh Patel on Monday, July 6, after he completed a two-year mental health diversion program. Doctors, including a Stanford psychiatrist and family therapist, told the court he was “doing well” or “doing very well,” according to multiple reports.kron4.com
Patel, a Pasadena radiologist, was accused of deliberately steering his vehicle off Devil’s Slide along Highway 1 in San Mateo County on or around January 2, 2023. The drop was approximately 250 to 300 feet onto the rocky shoreline below.
His wife, Neha, then 41, and their two children — a 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son were inside the car. First responders described the survival of all four as a miracle. Firefighters had to cut the family out of the severely damaged Tesla.nytimes.com
Prosecutors charged Patel with three counts of attempted murder, alleging the act was intentional. Defense attorneys argued he suffered a “psychotic break” tied to major depression, with symptoms including paranoia and delusions in the weeks leading up to the crash.
In 2024, over the objection of San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, a judge allowed Patel into California’s mental health diversion program instead of proceeding to trial. He was released to live with his parents in Belmont under GPS monitoring while receiving outpatient treatment. He was required to take medication and submit to regular drug testing.
Upon successful completion of the two-year program, the law required the charges to be dismissed. Judge Cho granted the dismissal, sealed the case, and ordered Patel’s passport returned.
Wagstaffe has publicly stated he opposed Patel’s entry into the diversion program and noted that prosecutors are now pushing to exclude attempted murder cases from future eligibility under the law. He described the outcome as Patel getting “the break of a lifetime.”
The decision has sparked widespread outrage online, with many expressing disbelief that someone accused of trying to kill his own family could have the charges erased based on mental health progress alone.californiathroughmylens.com
Critics argue this case highlights deep flaws in California’s criminal justice system and mental health diversion laws, which allow serious violent offenders to avoid traditional prosecution and potential prison time if they complete treatment programs. What began as a horrific alleged attempt on a family’s life has ended with no criminal conviction and the case sealed from public view.
Patel’s family reportedly survived the plunge thanks in part to the structural integrity of the Tesla. Yet the focus for many remains on the judicial outcome: a father accused of driving his wife and children off a cliff walks free because he is, by all accounts from his treatment providers, “doing well” in his mental health program.
The story has reignited debates over how California handles violent crimes when mental health claims are raised, and whether the system prioritizes treatment over accountability in cases involving attempted murder of family members.
