LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a recent incident in California, Paul Pelosi, the spouse of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, found himself entangled in a hit-and-run episode, resulting in significant damage to a parked vehicle. Authorities reported on Saturday that he may face misdemeanor charges.
Pelosi was maneuvering his brown convertible through Yountville—an area renowned for its wine country—when the accident occurred. He hit a legally parked car along the roadway, halted momentarily, and then drove off, according to a statement from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in the incident.
A bystander who witnessed the collision promptly contacted 911. Sheriff’s deputies, arriving shortly thereafter, located Pelosi about a quarter of a mile from the scene with visible damage to the front of his vehicle. When approached by the officers, Pelosi reportedly admitted to realizing he had collided with an object but couldn’t recall when it happened or the cause of the damage.
Despite initial concerns, the authorities confirmed that alcohol was not a factor, as Pelosi, 86, had no traces of it in his system. Given his age, the sheriff’s office has referred him to the Department of Motor Vehicles, initiating a standard procedure to assess his capability to continue driving, something routinely done with elder drivers.
Although Paul Pelosi was not arrested, the sheriff’s office recommended misdemeanor charges for leaving the scene of an accident, since the collision resulted in no physical harm. This means he may have to respond to legal proceedings stemming from the incident.
A staffer for Nancy Pelosi did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Paul Pelosi pleaded guilty in 2022 to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence in Napa County and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation. However, he served only two days in jail and received good conduct credit for two other days, leaving just one day to serve in a work program at the courthouse.
As part of his probation, Pelosi was required to attend a three-month drinking driver class and install an ignition interlock device, which forces drivers to provide a breath sample to prove sobriety before the engine will start. He also was ordered to pay about $5,000 in victim restitution for medical bills and lost wages, along with nearly $2,000 in fines.
That same year he was attacked and severely beaten with a hammer at the couple’s San Francisco home.