Indian American Claims Mental State in Family Murder

A 41-year-old Indian-origin doctor in the US, Dharmesh Patel, faces sentencing for allegedly attempting to kill his wife and two minor children by purposely driving his Tesla car off the Pacific Coast Highway.

The incident occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway, but miraculously, everyone survived the crash. The doctor’s wife stated that he had expressed his intention to drive off the cliff before the incident.

Patel was charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder in May. He claimed his Tesla Model Y was having tyre issues when he drove off the cliff. Patel pleaded not guilty and asked for a mental health diversion due to his major depressive disorder.

California law requires a suspect’s mental disorder to be a “significant factor” in the criminal act. If participants complete the diversion program, their charges could be dropped and their arrest could be expunged.

The court would decide if previous charges would be reinstated or not after the program is complete. Witnesses and video footage from the Tom Lantos Tunnel show Patel driving straight off the cliff without braking or attempting to serve for safety. Investigations are ongoing to determine if there were any mechanical issues with the Tesla before the incident.