Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is facing a hit-and-run charge after authorities said he crashed into a parked vehicle and continued driving before his own car became disabled.
The incident occurred Thursday afternoon in Yountville, California, according to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said the case has been referred to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.
Authorities said the collision involved an unoccupied parked vehicle and that alcohol does not appear to have been a factor.
Paul Pelosi Faces Possible Hit-and-Run Charge
According to the sheriff’s office, a witness reported seeing a driver strike a parked car before briefly stopping and then driving away from the scene.
The witness provided deputies with the direction the vehicle was traveling, allowing officers to begin searching the area.
A short time later, deputies found a California Highway Patrol vehicle parked behind a brown convertible that was partially blocking the roadway.
Officers identified the driver as 86-year-old Paul Pelosi.
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Investigators said Pelosi’s vehicle had significant damage to the front-right side consistent with the earlier crash.
According to the sheriff’s office, Pelosi acknowledged that he had hit something while driving but told deputies he did not know what he had hit.
“He admitted to hitting something, but said he did not know what he had hit, so he kept driving,” the sheriff’s office said in its statement.
Authorities said Pelosi continued driving until his vehicle became disabled and could no longer be operated.
Why Prosecutors Are Reviewing the Case
Deputies conducted a preliminary alcohol screening after locating Pelosi.
The sheriff’s office said the test found no alcohol in his system and investigators determined alcohol was not involved in the incident.
Pelosi was not arrested at the scene.
Instead, the sheriff’s office forwarded the case to prosecutors for consideration of a misdemeanor charge involving leaving the scene after striking a parked vehicle.
The Napa County District Attorney’s Office will determine whether to proceed with prosecution.
How This Case Differs From Pelosi’s 2022 DUI Incident
The incident signifies the second time Pelosi has encountered legal trouble stemming from a traffic collision in Napa County.
In 2022, he was arrested after crashing his Porsche while driving near Yountville. That case resulted in charges of driving under the influence.
Pelosi later pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to five days in jail, placed on probation, and ordered to complete additional court-imposed requirements related to the conviction.
The latest case differs from the 2022 incident because investigators have said alcohol played no role in Thursday’s collision.
Instead, the investigation centers on whether Pelosi unlawfully left the scene after damaging another vehicle.
The crash happened in the Napa Valley community where Pelosi and his wife own property and frequently spend time.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi served twice as Speaker of the House and remains one of the most influential Democratic lawmakers in Washington.
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Her office has not publicly commented on the latest case involving her husband.
Paul Pelosi has largely remained out of the political spotlight, though he occasionally appears alongside his wife at public events.
He made national headlines in 2022 after surviving a violent hammer attack at the couple’s San Francisco home.
The attacker, David DePape, was later convicted and sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the assault.
Thursday’s collision has again placed Pelosi in the public eye, although authorities emphasized that the investigation concerns a traffic offense rather than impaired driving.
Investigators have not released the identity of the owner of the parked vehicle or provided an estimate of the damage caused by the collision.
Officials also have not announced when the district attorney’s office will decide whether to formally prosecute the case.
California’s Laws on Leaving the Scene of a Crash
Under California law, drivers involved in collisions that cause property damage are generally required to stop, provide identifying information, and report the incident when appropriate.
Failure to do so can result in misdemeanor charges, depending on the circumstances of the crash.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation has been completed and that prosecutors will now review the evidence before determining the next step in the case.
