California dad who drove family off cliff will get mental health treatment instead of trial

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- A California radiologist accused of trying to termination his household by driving disconnected a cliff on the Northern California seashore volition person intelligence wellness attraction alternatively of lasting trial, a justice ruled.

Prosecutors charged Dharmesh A. Patel, 43, with attempted execution aft the Tesla helium was driving plunged disconnected a 250-foot (76 meters) cliff on the Pacific Coast Highway successful San Mateo County, injuring his woman and 2 young children. All 4 survived the Jan. 2, 2023, clang successful what 1 authoritative called an "absolute miracle."

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Wednesday helium was disappointed with the judge's decision.

"I americium disappointed with the court's decision, but Judge Jakubowski cautiously weighed the grounds and the facts and went the different way," helium said.

Patel's defence attorney, Joshua Bentley, argued successful May that the radiologist qualifies for intelligence wellness diversion nether California law, the tv presumption reported.

"It's important to recognize wherefore we are here. Not everyone who commits a transgression is simply a criminal. There is nary question this is simply a precise superior case. But the instrumentality encompasses this precise situation," Bentley told the judge.

Patel does not airs a information to the assemblage due to the fact that helium volition beryllium nether an intensive psychiatric attraction program, arsenic good arsenic monitored with a GPS bracelet equipped with a siren, Bentley said.

Deputy District Attorney Dominique Davis argued that Patel should not suffice for a intelligence wellness diversion programme due to the fact that helium poses "an unreasonable hazard of information to nationalist safety," KRON-TV reported.

Patel's woman testified that she does not privation her hubby prosecuted. She said her children miss their begetter and they privation him to instrumentality home, the tv presumption reported.

Davis said the grounds showed that successful the weeks starring up to the attempted triple murder, Patel experienced paranoia and delusions, which are symptoms of schizoaffective disorder.

The justice agreed with Patel's defence and said successful her ruling that Patel doesn't person a past of unit and that his diagnosis of large depressive upset played a important relation successful his actions.

Patel, who has been successful jailhouse without bail since his arrest, volition beryllium held for respective much weeks earlier being released to his parents' location successful Belmont, Calif. He volition beryllium monitored by GPS, volition person to surrender his driver's licence and passport, and volition request to cheque with the tribunal weekly, the justice ruled.