The California radiologist accused of intentionally driving his car off a 330-foot cliff with his family inside will not stand trial.
A court granted Dharmesh Patel, 42, a mental health diversion by a court Thursday because of evidence that he has major depressive disorder, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office said.
Patel pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder after he was accused of driving off the Pacific Coast Highway and over a cliff at Devil’s Slide in San Mateo County early last year. His wife and two children, ages 4 and 7 at the time, were also in the car. All four survived.
Patel's wife did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
San Mateo Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski said that Patel was eligible for a mental health diversion because of his condition and that a proposed treatment plan would address his needs, the district attorney's office said in a news release.
"Weighing all factors, the court determined the defendant was suitable and granted the defense request for mental health diversion," the release said.
The district attorney’s office “intensely” opposed mental health diversion for Patel and asked the court to bring him to trial on the three counts of attempted murder, District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe told NBC News.
“But under California’s diversion law, the court makes the decision,” Wagstaffe said.
Patel will remain in jail for "several weeks" before he is released to his parents' home in San Mateo County, which he has been ordered not to leave, according to the district attorney's office. The court has also ordered that Patel report to court once a week for progress reports, that he test twice a week "to show medication compliance," that he abstain from alcohol and drugs and that he surrender his driver's license and passport.
Patel will return to court on July 1, when details of his release will be determined, Wagstaffe said.
An attorney for Patel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
