A California DA is ‘disappointed’ that doctor who drove a Tesla carrying his family off a cliff gets mental health diversion instead of a trial [Video]

The California doctor who was accused of purposely driving his Tesla off a cliff with his family inside has been handed the chance to get the charges against him dismissed.

A San Mateo County judge on June 20 granted Dharmesh Patel’s request to participate in a mental health diversion program, which would allow him to avoid a trial on charges of attempted murder.

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, whose office brought charges against Patel, panned Judge Susan Jakubowski’s order, telling Business Insider on Wednesday that he was “disappointed with the court’s decision.”

“Judge Jakubowski carefully weighed the evidence and the facts and went the other way,” Wagstaffe said. “If I were judge, I would definitely have ruled the opposite, but that is how our criminal justice system works. We do not get to win them all.”

The ability to participate in diversion programs …