Charges Dropped Against Indian-American Radiologist Dharmesh Patel in Devil's Slide Case
All attempted murder charges against Dharmesh Patel, a 45-year-old Indian-American radiologist originally from Pasadena, were dismissed by a San Mateo County judge after he successfully completed a two-year mental health diversion program. Patel had been accused of intentionally driving his Tesla off a 250-foot cliff at Devil's Slide in January 2023, injuring his wife and two young children — all four survived in what officials called an absolute miracle. The case drew widespread attention from Bay Area South Asian communities and reignited debate among California district attorneys about the scope of mental health diversion eligibility for violent crimes.
San Mateo Judge Dismisses Patel's Attempted Murder Case
ABC7 Bay Area reported that a San Mateo County judge dismissed all criminal charges against Dharmesh Patel, 45, an Indian-American radiologist, more than three years after he was accused of intentionally driving his Tesla off a 250-foot cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway at Devil's Slide, injuring his wife and two young children. The dismissal came after Patel successfully completed a two-year mental health diversion program with a Stanford University psychiatrist and a family therapist. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe confirmed the dismissal was legally required under California's mental health diversion statute, stating: 'The judge was required by the law to dismiss the charges.' A different judge had ruled in 2024 that Patel qualified for mental health diversion after defense attorneys argued he was experiencing episodic major depression with hallucinations at the time of the January 2, 2023 crash, believing his children were at risk of being trafficked. Patel had been held without bail before being released in 2024 to begin outpatient treatment under GPS monitoring while living with his parents in San Mateo County. His wife and children also relocated to the Bay Area. DA Wagstaffe said prosecutors will continue working with California state lawmakers to exclude attempted murder from mental health diversion eligibility, describing the case as an ongoing motivator for legislative reform. [2]
National Coverage: Patel Case Tests California Mental Health Diversion Law
ABC News provided national context for the Dharmesh Patel case, which attracted significant media coverage when the incident first occurred in January 2023 and again when all charges were dismissed in 2026. Patel, an Indian-American radiologist, was accused of intentionally driving his family's Tesla off a 250-foot cliff on the Pacific Coast Highway near San Mateo County in a crash that all four passengers—Patel, his wife, and two young children—miraculously survived. Prosecutors had argued the act was premeditated attempted murder, while defense attorneys maintained that Patel was suffering from severe depression and hallucinations, including the delusion that his children were in danger of being kidnapped and trafficked. A court accepted the defense position and granted Patel access to California's mental health diversion program under a 2023 state law, with treatment overseen by a Stanford psychiatrist. His completion of the program in 2026 led directly to the mandatory dismissal of all charges by the San Mateo County court. ABC News' national profile of the case highlighted a broader legal debate across California, where district attorneys have been pressing the legislature to amend the diversion law to exclude violent offenses like attempted murder. The Patel case became central to that debate, with the San Mateo DA's office pledging to continue advocating for the amendment even after the charges were formally dropped. [6]
Sources: [2] ABC7 Bay Area · [6] abcnews.com