Tesla Devil’s Slide crash: jail or hospital for Dharmesh Patel?

Should Dr. Dharmesh Patel be admitted into a mental health diversion program rather than face trial on charges of attempting to murder his wife and two children in the January 2023 Tesla Devil’s Slide crash.

A judge in Redwood City, California Wednesday began a hearing on the fate of the Indian American radiologist who is accused of plunging his family’s Tesla — which he was driving — off Highway 1 last year near Devil’s Slide, according to Mercury News.

If the judge grants Patel’s request, the charges against him could be dismissed over the next couple of years, after he completes a court-ordered treatment program.

READ: Tesla Devil’s Slide crash doctor barred from practicing medicine (June 15, 2023)

Patel was hearing footsteps and suffering from delusions about the nation’s fentanyl crisis, the war in Ukraine and the possibility of his children being kidnapped around the time of the crash, a psychologist testified Wednesday.

Patel was a good candidate for the diversion program because he was a low risk for harming anyone else after showing strong progress over the past year, clinical psychologist, Mark Patterson told the court.

“I see him as someone who is very motivated and amenable to treatment,” said Patterson, who was called to the stand by Patel’s attorney. The clinician added that it was “clear to me he has a good capacity” to respond to treatment.

READ: Tesla Devil’s Slide crash driver charged with attempted murder (January 31, 2023)

If the request is granted, a Stanford psychiatric clinician, James Armontrout, said he’d oversee Patel’s treatment, which would include intensive outpatient care involving group and individual therapy sessions, as well as meetings with himself and a psychotherapist.

San Mateo County prosecutors, however, have filed motions opposing the request. They are expected to call their first witness when the case is back in court on May 2.

Prosecutors say Patel intentionally tried to kill his wife and their two small children by driving off a 250-foot cliff onto a rocky beach outside Half Moon Bay.

Patel suffered injuries to his leg and foot, while his wife suffered more severe injuries. Their 7-year-old child was seriously injured, and their 4-year-old only suffered bruises.

Patel later pleaded not guilty, claiming the family’s Tesla had been experiencing tire issues that may have caused the crash.

He allegedly told investigators that he stopped three times at gas stations that day to put air in his left-rear tire while driving to the Devil’s Slide area. He added that the car’s tire-pressure sensor light had turned on beforehand, authorities say.

He has since been held without bail at the San Mateo County jail.

Patel’s mental state has been a central issue in the case, with his wife initially telling first responders that her husband was “depressed” and that “he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off.” Investigators also said the Tesla’s self-driving features did “not appear to be a contributing factor” in the incident.