He drove his family off a cliff in a Tesla. Now his wife wants him freed

The wife of a Pasadena man who drove her and their two young children off a Northern California cliff asked a judge to release her husband from jail, saying the family needs him.

Neha Patel testified for the first time Thursday during a hearing over whether her husband, Dharmesh, should have his case removed from criminal court, in a scenario that would see him released from jail and put into a mental health diversion program.

“We need him in our life,” said Patel, who appeared via video call, according to the Mercury News . “We’re not a family without him.”

She and her two children were passengers when Dharmesh Patel drove his Tesla off a cliff Jan. 2, 2023, at Devil's Slide on Highway 1. He was charged with a count of attempted murder for each passenger and has been jailed since. Doctors testifying in Dharmesh Patel's defense have argued that he is fit for mental health diversion and that the crash was probably a result of his major depressive disorder and a psychotic episode.

Mental health diversion would mean that he would be released from jail and be placed under a treatment plan by a supervising doctor for two years. If he were to violate the treatment plan or other conditions of release, his case would be returned to court. If he followed the plan, his case would be dropped.

Patel testified at length about the effect her husband's absence has had on the family, calling him a “kind and altruistic” man who “has been my best friend for more than 25 years,” according to the Mercury News. Her testimony was surprising as she told paramedics after the crash that her husband purposefully drove off the cliff.

“‘He intentionally tried to kill us,’” Patel told paramedics, according to the San Mateo County district attorney .

Despite her testimony, Dist. Atty. Stephen Wagstaffe opposes the diversion of the case. A doctor for the prosecution testified Thursday that Dharmesh Patel suffers from schizoaffective disorder and that his case should not be diverted.

A judge has not yet ruled on the motion.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .