A psychologist testified in the San Francisco Chronicle that Dharmesh Patel, an Indian-American radiologist from Washington, DC, who drove his family off a cliff, had a “psychotic breakdown.” Patel, driving a Tesla with his wife and two children, harbored delusions that his children were in danger of being sex trafficked. Dr. Mark Patterson, summoned as an expert witness by Patel’s legal team, revealed that he had met with Patel numerous times after the tragic crash on January 2, 2023.
The testimony shed light on Patel’s mental state, suggesting a significant psychological disturbance leading up to the incident. Patel’s belief about the safety of his children reflects a profound departure from reality, indicating a state of psychosis. The psychologist’s insights provide context to the tragic event, offering a glimpse into Patel’s mindset and potential factors contributing to his actions on that fateful day.
As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Dr. Mark Patterson provided testimony indicating that he had diagnosed Dharmesh Patel with major depressive disorder featuring a single episode of psychotic features and anxious distress. Patel had disclosed experiencing auditory hallucinations and a pervasive sense of being followed in the weeks leading up to the tragic incident. Patterson detailed Patel’s state of mind as one marked by paranoid and delusional thinking, which ultimately led him to perceive a grave threat to his family’s safety. Patel, driven by these distressing beliefs, took drastic action, driving his white 2021 Tesla Model Y off a cliff in what he perceived as an act of protecting his loved ones from potential harm.
In response to Patterson’s testimony, the court gained insight into Patel’s mental state and the factors that influenced his actions on that fateful day. Patterson’s account portrayed Patel as grappling with profound psychological disturbances, which manifested in alarming delusions about the safety of his family. Prosecutors have levied serious charges against Patel, accusing him of three counts of attempted murder for his alleged intentional endangerment of his wife and two children. The testimony underscores the complexity of the case, as legal proceedings aim to reconcile the tragic outcome with Patel’s mental health struggles and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Patel, who has entered a plea of not guilty, is currently seeking eligibility for mental health treatment instead of incarceration, under a 2018 diversion law that underwent expansion in the previous year. At the time of the crash, Patel was 41 years old, driving his Tesla with his wife, Neha, and their two children. Their 7-year-old sustained severe injuries, while their 4-year-old escaped with relatively minor physical harm.
According to San Francisco Chronicle, citing search warrant records, Neha Patel informed rescuers that her husband deliberately drove the family off the cliff with the intent to end their lives. She also indicated that he was experiencing a mental health crisis. Conversely, during his statement to California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers, Patel asserted that he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol nor was he taking any medication at the time of the crash.