Overview
- The San Mateo County Superior Court dismissed and sealed the three attempted-murder counts on Monday after Dharmesh Patel completed a two-year court-approved mental-health diversion program.
- Patel was accused of deliberately driving his Tesla off a 250-foot cliff at Devil's Slide on January 2, 2023, with his wife and two young children in the car; investigators and prosecutors had said they developed probable cause to treat the crash as intentional.
- A judge found Patel eligible for diversion in 2024 after psychiatrists testified he was having a psychotic episode, and his treatment plan required GPS monitoring, living with relatives, surrendering his passport and driver's license, regular therapy, supervised family contact and drug testing.
- Patel surrendered his California medical license in late 2025 after the Medical Board found unprofessional conduct, and his injured wife, Neha Patel, told the court she forgave him and did not want prosecution before the couple left the courthouse together after the dismissal.
- San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe says the law compelled dismissal once diversion was completed and is working with other prosecutors and lawmakers to change the statute so attempted murder cannot be resolved through mental-health diversion, a development that could alter how serious cases involving mental illness are handled.