Dharmesh Patel: Wife of California doctor who drove family off cliff wants him home, asks court to dismiss charges
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The wife of a California doctor who was accused of intentionally causing a crash on the Pacific Coast Highway near San Francisco has pleaded with prosecutors to drop the charges against her husband.
On January 2, 2023, Dharmesh Patel drove off a cliff along with his wife and their children, who were saved with non-life-threatening injuries.
Patel's wife Neha Patel spoke for the first time on Thursday regarding the incident, insisting that prosecutors withdraw the criminal charges and requesting her husband's release under the condition that he participate in a mental health diversion program.
Dharmesh Patel's wife argues for his release
Patel's wife told the court they need him in their life, and she blamed the crash on a mental health episode they couldn't control.
She promised that if her husband returned home to their family, "things will be different."
She added, "It will restore the health and wellness of our entire family."
She stressed the importance of her family's health and safety, promising to seek help when needed.
She added they're not a family without him, claiming, "We need — we need him in our life."
If approved, Patel's care would be managed by Stanford psychiatric clinician James Armontrout. His treatment would include therapy sessions, as per DailyMail.
Neha Patel opens up about children’s anguish
Neha also expressed the impact of his absence on her and their children.
She said, "He wished daddy would magically appear on St Patrick's Day when he saw a rainbow, Seeing my kids in emotional pain is one of the hardest things I've had to endure."
Describing Patel as "kind and altruistic," she said he's been her best friend for over 25 years.
However, San Mateo County prosecutors oppose the request and have filed motions against it.
What is the condition of Patel's family after the crash?
Dharmesh Patel sustained minor injuries to his leg and foot, while Neha suffered more severe injuries from the crash.
Their seven-year-old child was seriously injured, whereas their four-year-old escaped with only bruises. Both children were discharged from the hospital within weeks.
Initially, the radiologist claimed innocence, attributing the incident to tire issues with his Tesla on the day of the crash.
He reported stopping three times at gas stations to inflate the tires, noting the tire pressure light illuminated just before they went off the cliff.
Dr Mark Patterson, an expert witness called by Patel's attorney, testified that Patel, 42, was undergoing a psychotic episode, fearing his children would be sex trafficked before the incident.
Patterson claimed, "It was paranoid and kind of delusional thinking that he acted on at the time to protect his family from a worse fate."
He concluded, "He was concerned that his children were at risk of being kidnapped, possibly for sexual molestation. … There were concerns surrounding the explosion of fentanyl in this country and the war in Ukraine."
