Paul Pelosi investigated for hit-and-run after crashing into parked car in Napa County
Paul Pelosi, 86, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is being investigated after his convertible struck a parked car in Yountville, California, on Friday and he left the scene, authorities said.
The incident
On Friday, July 4, Paul Pelosi, 86, was driving his brown convertible through Yountville, a small town in the heart of Napa County's wine country, when he struck a legally parked, unoccupied car. The parked vehicle sustained what the Napa County Sheriff's Office described as "major damage" to its rear, while the front of Pelosi's car was severely damaged. A witness saw the collision and called 911. Pelosi stopped briefly at the scene, then drove away.
Investigation and possible charges
Sheriff's deputies found Pelosi roughly a quarter of a mile from the crash site. He told officers that he knew he had hit something but was unsure what it was, and he kept driving until his car became disabled. A breathalyzer test detected no alcohol, and driving under the influence was ruled out. Pelosi was not arrested. The sheriff's office referred the case to the Napa County District Attorney's Office, which will decide whether to file a misdemeanor charge of fleeing the scene of an accident. Because of Pelosi's age, the office also submitted a request to the California Department of Motor Vehicles to evaluate his fitness to drive, a process that officials described as "common" for elderly drivers.
The parked car sustained major damage.
Prior driving record
This is not Pelosi's first traffic incident in Napa County. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence after a crash and was sentenced to five days in jail, three years of probation, and required to install an ignition interlock device. He served two days in jail and completed a work program, and was ordered to pay about $5,000 in victim restitution and nearly $2,000 in fines. Later that year, he was attacked and severely beaten with a hammer at the couple's San Francisco home, suffering two skull fractures. The assailant, David DePape, is serving a life sentence. The New York Times also reported that Pelosi was involved in a fatal crash as a teenager, when his brother was killed, and another crash four years ago.
Reactions
A staffer for former Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not respond to requests for comment. Amanda Bevins, a lawyer for Paul Pelosi, also declined to comment. No injuries were reported in Friday's incident.
