(NewsNation) —
Defense attorneys argued Dharmesh Patel was suffering from a mental health episode when he drove the family Tesla off the highway in January 2023, crashing onto a rocky beach south of San Francisco. The radiologist, his wife and two young children survived. Patel was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder.
Family members, including his wife, didn’t want Patel to stand trial and had been hoping the judge would place him in mental health treatment instead. Prosecutors, however, had questioned Patel’s mental history, arguing the crash was an intentional act of attempted murder-suicide because he felt the world was caving in due to global issues such as war, the fentanyl crisis and child sex trafficking.
NewsNation local affiliate KRON writes a doctor testified Patel was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. During the trial, the defense team’s experts, Dr. James Armontrout and Dr. Mark Patterson diagnosed Patel with major depressive disorder, according to KRON.
In her ruling, the judge pointed out that Patel wanted to continue his psychiatric treatment, and cited the strong support system he had around him.
If Patel successfully completes the two-year mental health program, prosecutors will have to dismiss the charges against him. However, he will remain behind bars until at least July 1, which is the date of his next court hearing. Once released, Patel has been ordered to stay at his parents’ home in San Mateo County.