An Indian-American doctor, Dharmesh Patel, will receive mental health treatment instead of serving jail time after driving his Tesla off a cliff with his wife and two young children in January last year. Patel, who was suffering from schizoaffective disorder and major depressive disorder, believed his family was at risk of being sex trafficked, according to US psychologists.

The incident occurred on January 2, 2023, when Patel’s Tesla Model Y plummeted off the 250-foot cliff known as “Devil’s Slide” on Highway 1, landing on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Miraculously, Patel, his wife Neha, and their two children — a 7-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son — all survived the crash.

Initially charged with three counts of attempted murder, Patel pleaded not guilty, claiming the Tesla malfunctioned and caused the accident. However, his wife later testified that she did not wish to see him prosecuted.

In April, two doctors testified that Patel suffered from major depressive disorder and experienced a psychotic break during the incident. Based on medical evaluations, Superior Court Judge Susan M. Jakubowski ruled in favor of Patel’s participation in a “mental health diversion” program, which allows defendants with significant mental illness involved in their crimes to receive treatment instead of imprisonment.

Patel has been released to his parents’ custody in California and will be monitored with GPS. He is required to check in with the court weekly and must surrender his license and passport. The next hearing is scheduled for July 1.