Regulators moved this week to sanction a doctor accused of intentionally driving his Tesla off a cliff with his wife and children on board.
The Pasadena Star-News reports Dharmesh Patel has been barred from practicing medicine for fear he posed “an alarming danger to the public.”
He faces charges of attempted murder and is currently in jail.
The California Medical Board said the move was necessary especially if he were released on bail.
According to the India Times, his wife Neha Patel said he drove the car off the cliff on purpose because “he’s depressed.”
Her husband escaped the accident with injuries to his leg and feet while her injuries were more serious. The accident left the 7-year-old son hospitalized for a month and the 4 year old suffered just bruising.
“Public protection, therefore, requires that the defendant be prohibited from practicing medicine throughout the pendency,” the motion approved by Superior Court Judge Rachel Holt said, according to the Indica News.
Back in January, the family’s Tesla swerved off Highway 1 in Pacifica south of San Francisco along the Pacific Ocean. The stretch of highway is known as Devil’s Slide for its treacherous driving conditions, although the state had widened the highway to make it safer.
The car plunged 250 feet down the embankment. The Patel’s are from Pasadena near Los Angeles and he is a radiologist from Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Patel has denied he drove off the cliff intentionally. Rather he said the sensor had indicated his tire pressure was dangerously low and he drove to the side of the road to check the tires when the car went over the cliff.
He also denied that he had been depressed.
When he was asked if he was suicidal, the Indica Times reports he responded “you know, not like a plan, not usually”.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
We are supported through donations and such charitable organizations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. December 3 is Giving Tuesday. Will you consider a tax-deductible donation to Asian American Media Inc and AsAmNews?
Please follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and X.