Woman Whose Husband Allegedly Drove Her Off A Cliff Pleads For His Release

Dharmesh Patel allegedly drove his Tesla off a 250-foot cliff on Jan. 2, 2023, with his family inside.

The wife of a California doctor who drove his Tesla off a cliff with their family trapped inside is asking a judge to place her husband in a mental health treatment program rather than sending him to prison.

“We need him in our lives,” Neha Patel , whose husband Dharmesh Patel is being tried for the attempted murder of herself and their two children, told a Redwood City judge Thursday, per The San Francisco Chronicle .

“It has been over a year and a half since my children or I have seen or spoken to Dharmesh. We are not a family without him,” she said via Zoom.

On Jan. 2, 2023, Dharmesh Patel was was driving along a dangerous stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway known as the Devil’s Slide , where numerous fatal accidents have occurred. His Tesla Model Y allegedly careened off a 250-foot cliff with Neha and their kids inside.

Police charged Dharmesh Patel with three counts of attempted murder. San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe previously told People that Neha warned first responders after the incident that her partner “intentionally tried to kill us.”

While the mother of two and her children survived, Neha Patel and one of her kids suffered serious injuries, per the Chronicle.

Dharmesh has pleaded not guilty to all charges, per the L.A. Times. He has claimed the crash was an accident.

Should the judge in Dharmesh Patel’s case rule in favor of diversion, he would be released from jail and placed in a two-year mental health program. He would be returned to criminal court, should he violate the conditions of his release.

The entire family miraculously survived and were hospitalized for relatively minor injuries.

The defense argued Thursday that Dharmesh Patel acted on a psychotic episode and major depressive disorder, which led him to believe his children were being sex-trafficked, per The Los Angeles Times . They argued these symptoms would be best treated outside of prison.

A doctor for the prosecution reportedly testified Thursday that Dharmesh Patel suffers from schizoaffective disorder, a related condition that also qualifies him for diversion, so long as he complies with doctors, per the Chronicle.

“Now that we understand and know he has a treatable condition, things will be different,” Neha Patel said in her testimony, according to the paper. “I want members of the court to know the health and safety of my family is of paramount importance.”

She said during her testimony that her husband has “never had an episode” in their 25 years together.

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com . Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention .