Overview
- A San Mateo County judge dismissed the three attempted murder counts against Dharmesh Patel after he successfully finished a two-year mental-health diversion program that the court required for eligible defendants.
- The case stems from a Jan. 2, 2023, crash at Devil’s Slide in which Patel’s Tesla plunged about 250–300 feet with his wife and two young children inside and all four survived.
- Patel’s diversion included regular psychiatric and family therapy, twice-weekly medication testing, GPS monitoring, residence with his parents in Belmont, surrender of his passport and driver’s license, and frequent court check-ins.
- Defense clinicians diagnosed Patel with major depressive disorder with psychotic features and testified he suffered a psychotic break at the time of the crash, a finding that underpinned the court’s diversion ruling.
- San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said the dismissal was mandatory after program completion and said he will press lawmakers to narrow diversion eligibility for serious violent crimes while the court sealed the case and returned Patel’s passport.