An Indian-American doctor who drove his Tesla off a cliff in the US with his wife and two children inside - in an alleged attempt to murder them - will not be serving any jail time for now and will receive mental health treatment.

Dharmesh Patel, a radiologist in California, drove his car, carrying his wife Neha and two children aged 7 and 4, off a cliff last year after suffering from a psychotic breakdown, psychologists told the court. Mr Patel believed his children were at risk of being sex trafficked which led him to crash the car, they said.

A year after he drove his wife and two children off a cliff in California into the Pacific Ocean, Indian-American radiologist Dharmesh Patel has avoided a jail term and will be treated for mental illness after his doctors told the court he suffered a "psychotic breakdown".

In January 2023, Mr Patel drove his Tesla, carrying his wife Neha and two children aged 7 and 4, off a cliff into a 250-foot gorge. The family escaped with minor injuries even though the car was severely damaged. His wife told rescuers he drove the car off the cliff intentionally and was mentally disturbed at the time.

Why did he drive his car off a cliff?

On Thursday, Mr Patel's lawyers told the court that his actions were solely influenced by his mental state as he was suffering from paranoia and delusion.

Doctors who assessed the radiologist said his mental health had deteriorated weeks before the horrific crash. He had been hearing footsteps and was convinced he was being followed by someone, the doctors told the court.


A year after he drove his wife and two children off a cliff in California into the Pacific Ocean, Indian-American radiologist Dharmesh Patel has avoided a jail term and will be treated for mental illness after his doctors told the court he suffered a "psychotic breakdown".

In January 2023, Mr Patel drove his Tesla, carrying his wife Neha and two children aged 7 and 4, off a cliff into a 250-foot gorge. The family escaped with minor injuries even though the car was severely damaged. His wife told rescuers he drove the car off the cliff intentionally and was mentally disturbed at the time.

Why did he drive his car off a cliff?

On Thursday, Mr Patel's lawyers told the court that his actions were solely influenced by his mental state as he was suffering from paranoia and delusion.

Doctors who assessed the radiologist said his mental health had deteriorated weeks before the horrific crash. He had been hearing footsteps and was convinced he was being followed by someone, the doctors told the court.

THE BUSINESS WORLD