California doctor’s murder-attempt charges dismissed

A California radiologist accused of attempting to murder his family by driving their car off a coastal cliff has had all charges dismissed after completing a court-ordered mental health treatment program. The San Mateo County Superior Court dismissed three counts of attempted murder against Dharmesh Patel on Monday, July 6, 2026, following his successful completion of a two-year diversion program.

The incident occurred on January 2, 2023, when Patel, then 42, drove his Tesla off a cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway at a location known as Devil's Slide in San Mateo County. His wife and their two children, aged 4 and 7 at the time, were passengers in the vehicle. The car plunged approximately 250 feet down the coastal embankment. All four family members survived the crash, a result first responders described as miraculous.

Prosecutors initially charged Patel with attempted murder, alleging he intentionally drove off the cliff. He was held in jail without bail until 2024, when a judge ruled he qualified for mental health diversion under a California law. Defense attorneys argued Patel was suffering from a major depressive disorder and experiencing psychotic hallucinations at the...