US Indian Doctor who drove Family off Cliff had ‘Psychotic’ Break

A US Indian doctor accused of driving his Tesla off a cliff with his family inside allegedly suffered from “major depressive order” and experienced a “psychotic” break during the 2023 incident.

At a hearing, two doctors testified that Dharmesh Patel was experiencing hallucinations, hearing footsteps and feared his children were going to be sex trafficked.

Patel’s delusions were provoked by the country’s fentanyl crisis and the war in Ukraine.

Psychologist Mark Patterson said Patel’s fears that his children could be kidnapped and molested were connected to his worries about alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

The hearing was a response to an earlier request from Patel, who is seeking a mental health diversion in his case.

If a judge grants the doctor’s request, Patel would be placed on a two-year treatment plan instead of receiving jail time.

Patel’s charges would be dropped if he doesn’t commit any crimes during the proposed treatment plan.

If Patel is placed in the mental diversion programme, psychiatric clinician James Armontrout will oversee the treatment.

The doctor’s potential treatment includes “extensive outpatient care involving group and individual therapy sessions, as well as meetings with himself and a psychotherapist”.

Patel was deemed a good candidate for the programme because he’s at low risk of injuring anyone else and has shown progress with his treatment since the crash.

Mr Patterson said: “I see him as someone who is very motivated and amenable to treatment.”

Mr Patterson said it was “clear to me he has a good capacity” to respond to treatment.

Patel’s diagnosis came after a series of 18 tests were conducted and he spoke with the doctor and his siblings.

Patel was charged with three counts of attempted murder.

In January 2023, he drove the family’s car off a cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway in Northern California near an area known as Devil’s Slide.

The car plummeted more than 250 feet.

Patel, his wife Neha and their two children miraculously survived.

The doctor pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming his Tesla Model Y was experiencing tyre issues at the time of the crash.

However, Neha told investigators that her husband was suicidal and intentionally drove off the road.

She said:

“He’s depressed. He’s a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposefully drove off.”

The Tesla was found to not have been in self-driving mode and witnesses claimed the vehicle did not indicate any signs of malfunction.

Prosecutors argued against the diversion programme, claiming Patel was diagnosed with a different disorder, known as schizoaffective, and isn’t suffering from a major depressive disorder.

Schizoaffective is a chronic mental condition similar to schizophrenia.

Prosecutors also said it would be difficult to monitor Patel if the case leaves the court.

District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said: “If he goes off his medication, how do you know?

“It’s not like being on probation or on parole. It’s purely the visits with the psychiatrist.”

Patel has remained in custody without bail at San Mateo County Jail.