The radiologist who drove a Tesla off a cliff in California with his family inside is currently on trial for three counts of attempted murder. The incident occurred when Dharmesh Patel, a Pasadena-based radiologist, drove his family, including his wife and two children, off a 250-foot cliff in his Tesla Model Y. Fortunately, no one died in the crash, and Patel was subsequently arrested. During the trial, new testimony revealed that Patel was suffering from a psychotic break and a major depressive disorder at the time of the incident. According to court records, Patel believed that his children would be sex trafficked, which is being used as evidence of his depressive episode.
However, prosecutors are arguing that Patel was not suffering from a depressive disorder, but rather a schizoaffective disorder. They also dispute the effectiveness of the defense’s proposed treatment plan and advocate for the case to remain in court. As the case unfolds, no final resolution has been reached. There are concerns about monitoring Patel’s treatment and medication adherence if released from custody.
Prosecutors are skeptical about the level of oversight that would be in place during his time with doctors, as it would not be continuous like probation or parole. The case is ongoing, with no solution currently in sight.