California dad who drove family off cliff will get mental health treatment instead of trial
REDWOOD CITY, California — A California radiologist accused of murdering his family driving off a cliff along the Northern California coast will receive mental health care instead of standing trial, a judge ruled.
Prosecutors have charged Dharmesh A. Patel, 43, with attempted murder after the Tesla he was driving plunged off a 250-foot cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway in San Mateo County, injuring his wife and two young children. All four survived the Jan. 2, 2023, crash in what one official called an “absolute miracle.”
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Wednesday he was disappointed with the judge’s decision.
“I am disappointed with the court’s decision, but Judge Jakubowski carefully weighed the evidence and facts and went the other way,” he said.
Patel, who was on a road trip from Pasadena to the Bay Area with his family, will have to complete a two-year outpatient mental health treatment program at a Bay Area hospital before the charges are dropped, Supreme Court Justice Susan Jakubowski ruled last week: That reports KRON-TV.
Patel’s attorney, Joshua Bentley, argued in May that the radiologist qualifies for mental health treatment under California law, the television station reported.
“It’s important to understand why we are here. Not everyone who commits a crime is a criminal. There is no doubt that this is a very serious matter. But the law covers this very situation,” Bentley told the judge.
Patel does not pose a danger to the community because he will undergo an intensive psychiatric treatment program and be monitored with a GPS bracelet equipped with a siren, Bentley said.
Deputy District Attorney Dominique Davis argued that Patel should not be eligible for a mental health diversion program because he poses “an unreasonable risk of endangering public safety,” KRON-TV reported.
Patel’s wife testified that she does not want her husband to be prosecuted. She said her children miss their father and want him to return home, the television station reported.
Davis said the evidence showed that in the weeks leading up to the attempted triple murder, Patel suffered from paranoia and delusions, symptoms of schizoaffective disorder.
The judge agreed with Patel’s defense, saying in her ruling that Patel has no history of violence and that his diagnosis of major depressive disorder played a significant role in his actions.
Patel, who has been held without bail since his arrest, will be held for several more weeks before being released to his parents’ home in Belmont, California. He will be tracked by GPS and will have to surrender his driver’s license and passport. and will have to contact the court weekly, the judge ruled.