Spouse of Father Who Drove Tesla Off Cliff Pleads with Court docket to Rule In opposition to Jail Time

Radiologist Dharmesh Patel was arrested in January 2023 and charged with three counts of tried homicide, after the household’s Tesla — which he was driving — plunged 250 toes over a cliff dubbed the “Satan’s Slide” on the Pacific Coast Freeway. His spouse and two youngsters, who have been 7 and 4 on the time, have been within the automobile.

A courtroom listening to went down final week, as Patel’s protection staff argued he must be admitted to a two-year psychological well being diversion program — which, if accomplished with out challenge or additional arrests, may result in the costs towards him being dropped. Two docs who testified on Patel’s behalf claimed he was affected by main depressive dysfunction with a psychotic characteristic on the time of the crash.

Whereas showing in entrance of the San Mateo County Superior Court docket through Zoom, Patel’s spouse, Neha Patel, learn a press release asking the choose to rule towards jail time, and as a substitute grant her husband a psychological well being diversion, in response to The San Francisco Chronicle.

“I do not wish to see Dharmesh prosecuted with any of his costs. I’m pleading with the courtroom to grant him his psychological well being diversion,” she instructed the courtroom.

Neha mentioned her husband had a psychological well being episode that led to the accident, and that she and her household miss him.

“Seeing my youngsters in fixed ache is among the hardest issues I’ve needed to endure,” she defined. “As soon as I tuck my youngsters into mattress at night time I’m reminded of my very own solitude. I actually miss my greatest buddy. I actually miss my associate in my life.”

Per The Chronicle, Neha — who celebrated her 19-year wedding ceremony anniversary with Patel on Friday — grew emotional whereas praising her husband’s position as a father to their youngsters, telling the courtroom that her son got here into her room crying over his father’s absence.

“‘When is Daddy coming residence? He is taking so lengthy, and I miss him,'” Neha recalled her son telling her, earlier than including that her daughter holds the final present Patel acquired her earlier than the accident, a stuffed sea turtle, each night time.

“We’d like him in our lives, and it has been over a yr and a half since my youngsters or I’ve seen or spoken to Dharmesh,” she defined. “We’re not a household with out him.

“The psychological well being remedy … won’t solely restore him again to himself, however will restore our household,” she mentioned.

Whereas the 2 docs who testified in Patel’s protection final week claimed he was affected by main depressive dysfunction with a psychotic characteristic on the time of the crash, Dr. Yan Chan — who was known as to testify by Deputy District Lawyer Dominique Davis — mentioned he believed Patel is definitely affected by schizoaffective dysfunction.

In line with the Nationwide Alliance of Psychological Sickness (NAMI), schizoaffective dysfunction is a uncommon, “continual psychological well being situation characterised primarily by signs of schizophrenia, akin to hallucinations or delusions, and signs of a temper dysfunction, akin to mania and despair.” It may be handled with medicines, together with temper stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants, together with remedy.

Choose Susan Jakubowski should rule whether or not or not Patel has a qualifying psychological sickness and if it contributed to the accident. As well as, the choose will decide if she believes Patel would profit from psychological well being remedy and if he presents a menace to public security.

Though The Chronicle famous that schizoaffective dysfunction is a qualifying psychological sickness for a psychological well being diversion, the choose should conclude that Patel would take part within the full program, which incorporates taking prescription medicines. Chan mentioned Patel appeared reluctant to take antipsychotics when he was hospitalized after the crash, whereas additionally citing that Patel’s medical data confirmed that his paranoia signs returned after he stopped taking his antipsychotic treatment.

As well as, Chan mentioned Patel appeared to have indicators of “underreporting” his signs, and likewise famous that he initially claimed that the crash was an accident.

The psychologist testified that Patel offered signs of schizoaffective dysfunction way back to February 2022. He mentioned Patel believed his mailman was “out of get him” at one level. Chan additionally expressed his concern that outpatient remedy can be a “ripe atmosphere for these sorts of brewing ideas to return again.”

In the meantime, Neha claimed Patel “by no means had an episode” within the 25 years they’ve recognized one another, and asserted that her husband would be capable to maintain his sickness beneath management together with her assist and remedy.

“Now that we perceive and know he has a treatable situation, issues shall be completely different,” she mentioned. “I need members of the courtroom to know the well being and security of my household is of paramount significance.”