Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, faces misdemeanor charges after his car crashes into a parked vehicle in California

Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was involved in a crash in California’s Napa County and could face misdemeanor charges, authorities said Saturday (local time).

The incident occurred on Friday (local time) when Paul Pelosi was driving a brown convertible in the wine town of Yountville. According to a statement from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, he struck a legally parked vehicle, stopped briefly and then drove off. According to the AP, authorities said no injuries were reported; however, the parked car sustained “extensive” damage.

Here’s what we know

A witness who saw the crash called 911, after which sheriff’s deputies found Pelosi’s husband with damage to the front of his car in the roadway nearly a quarter mile away. Citing a news release, NBC News said, “A witness provided deputies with the direction the suspect vehicle was last seen traveling,” adding, “A short time later, officers observed a (California Highway Patrol) vehicle parked behind a brown convertible partially blocking the roadway.”

The report indicates that Paul Pelosi informed officers that he knew he had hit something, but was not sure when or what caused the damage. According to the press release, “Pelosi admitted that he hit something but said he didn’t know what he hit, so he kept driving,” adding, “He drove until his car became disabled and he was no longer able to continue driving.”

According to a statement from the sheriff’s office, the 86-year-old man was not driving under the influence of alcohol. He was subsequently referred to the Department of Motor Vehicles for an assessment of whether he is still fit to drive, a standard procedure for older motorists, officials said.

According to a released report, Paul Pelosi was not arrested, and since no injuries were reported, the sheriff’s office recommended a misdemeanor charge of fleeing the scene of an accident.

A spokesman for the Pelosi family said of the incident: “Mr. Paul Pelosi has personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he will take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle. A spokesman for Pelosi will not comment further on this private matter.”

Paul Pelosi’s previous car accident

This is the second time that Paul Pelosi has been involved in a car accident. Previously, in 2022, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (DUI) in Napa County, California. He was sentenced to five days in prison and three years of probation. According to media reports, Pelosi stayed in jail for just two days and received a good behavior bond for the remaining two days, leaving only one day left to serve in the court work program.

As part of his probation, Pelosi was ordered to complete a three-month DUI education program and install an ignition interlock device that requires drivers to provide a breath sample before starting their vehicle. He was also ordered to pay nearly $5,000 in restitution to cover the victim’s medical expenses and lost income, in addition to nearly $2,000 in fines.