In a recent hearing in Redwood City, two doctors testified that the California doctor accused of driving his Tesla off a cliff with his family inside allegedly suffered from a "major depressive disorder" and experienced a "psychotic" break during the 2023 crash. The accused doctor, Dharmesh Patel, 43, reportedly had hallucinations, heard footsteps, and believed his children had been sex trafficked.

Psychologist Mark Patterson testified that Patel's delusions were provoked by the nation's fentanyl crisis, the war in Ukraine, and fears for his children's safety. According to Patterson, Patel's worries about accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein seemed to be connected to his anxieties.

Patel, a Pasadena radiologist, had requested a mental health diversion in his case, and Wednesday's hearing was held in response to that request. If granted, Patel would be placed on a two-year treatment plan instead of receiving jail time. The charges against Patel would be dropped if he does not commit any further crimes during the proposed treatment plan.

The potential treatment for Patel, overseen by Stanford psychiatric clinician James Armontrout, would involve extensive outpatient care, including group and individual therapy sessions, as well as meetings with a psychotherapist. Patterson, who conducted 18 tests and spoke with Patel and his siblings, emphasized that the doctor was a good candidate for the program due to being at low risk of injuring others and showing progress in treatment since the crash.

Patel and his family miraculously survived the Jan. 2, 2023 crash after driving their car off a 250-foot cliff on Highway 1, commonly known as "Devil's Slide," and landing on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Patel was charged with three counts of attempted murder, but he has pleaded not guilty, claiming that his Tesla Model Y was experiencing tire issues at the time of the crash.

While prosecutors argued against the diversion program, claiming that Patel was diagnosed with a different disorder called schizoaffective, they also expressed concerns about monitoring him outside of the court system. San Mateo County Dist. Atty. Stephen Wagstaffe raised the issue of monitoring Patel's medication compliance and stated the difficulty in ensuring follow-up if the case leaves the court.

Patel has been held in custody without bail at San Mateo County Jail throughout the proceedings. The judge is expected to make a decision on his request for mental health diversion in the coming weeks.