Doctor accused of ‘purposely’ driving family off cliff asks for mental health treatment instead of prison

The California doctor who allegedly attempted to kill his family by driving his Tesla off Pacific Coast Highway is asking for a mental health diversion to avoid being sentenced to prison, reports say.

Pasadena resident Dharmesh Patel, 41, was charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder in May. Patel pled not guilty to the charges in February. 

Patel was the driver of a Tesla that plunged off Devil’s Slide near California Highway 1 on January 3. Patel, his wife, his 4-year-old son and his 7-year-old daughter all survived the crash. 

The suspect’s lawyers have asked for a mental health diversion because of Patel’s major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis, according to KRON 4.

Patel’s wife maintains that her husband told his family he was going to drive off the cliff before the incident. The suspect claimed his Tesla Model Y was having tire issues when he drove off the 250-foot cliff.

“He drove off. He’s depressed,” Neha Patel said in an affidavit obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle. “He’s a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off.”

DRAMATIC VIDEO SHOWS CALIFORNIA HELICOPTER RESCUE AFTER TESLA PLUNGES OFF ‘DEVIL’S SLIDE’ CLIFF

  • Tesla crashed over California cliff Image 1 of 4

    This image from video provided by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office shows a Tesla vehicle that plunged off a Northern California cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway near an area known as Devil’s Slide on Jan. 2, 2023. (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

  • California Tesla crash rescue Image 2 of 4

    In this image from video provided by San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, emergency personnel respond after a Tesla plunged off a Northern California cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway on Jan. 2, 2023. (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

  • Emergency personnel respond to the scene after a Tesla plunged off a cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway Image 3 of 4

    In this image from video provided by Cal Fire San Mateo, Santa Cruz Unit, emergency personnel respond to the scene after a Tesla plunged off a cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway on Jan. 2, 2023. (Cal Fire San Mateo – Santa Cruz Unit via AP)

  • A helicopter works above choppy waters to rescue two adults and two young children who plunged off a northern California cliff Image 4 of 4

    This image from video provided by San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office shows a helicopter rescue after a Tesla plunged off a Northern California cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway on Jan. 2, 2023. (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

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Patel’s eligibility for the mental health diversion will be decided at the end of July.

Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.

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