The Bay Area doctor whose Tesla went over the cliff at Devil’s Slide is no longer facing attempted murder charges. After completing a two-year, court-ordered mental health diversion program, Dr. Dharmesh Patel had those charges dismissed Monday, San Mateo County authorities said, closing a high-profile case that reignited debate over when treatment should take the place of a criminal trial for violent offenses.
According to KTVU, the diversion plan required Patel to attend regular sessions with both a psychiatrist and a social worker. A mental health court judge also lifted a no-harassment order and returned Patel’s passport after he finished the program. Prosecutors said Patel had to live at his parents’ home in Belmont under GPS monitoring and undergo twice-weekly testing to confirm he was taking prescribed medication during the diversion period.
How the crash unfolded
On January 2, 2023, Patel’s Tesla left southbound Highway 1 at Devil’s Slide and dropped more than 250 feet down the cliff with his wife and two children inside, then ages 7 and 4, according to authorities. All four survived the fall but were hospitalized. Investigators with the California Highway Patrol later said they developed probable cause that the plunge was intentional, and Patel was charged with three counts of attempted murder, the Associated Press reported.
Judge approved diversion amid heavy opposition
In mid-2024, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski ruled that Patel was eligible for mental health diversion after hearing competing expert testimony, and she ordered a strict two-year outpatient treatment program instead of a trial, CBS News reported. Prosecutors, led by District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, had opposed diversion and argued that the crime was too serious to qualify under the statute.
Why the outcome matters
The case helped spur legislative efforts in Sacramento. In 2024, Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen introduced AB 2576, a bill that would add attempted murder to the list of offenses ineligible for mental health diversion, and a follow-up proposal, AB 46, has also been filed, according to Assemblymember Nguyen’s office and legislative records from LegiScan. Supporters say such measures reflect concerns from prosecutors that diversion can undercut criminal accountability in some violent cases.
Local prosecutors said the dismissal in Patel’s case follows directly from his successful completion of the diversion program and noted that the court returned his passport at that point, KTVU reported. Defense attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The District Attorney’s Office has not indicated whether it will pursue any further action, and court records show the attempted murder charges are dismissed for now.
