Local station KTVU reported:
“Paul Pelosi, 86, the husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is under investigation for allegedly being involved in a hit-and-run crash in Yountville, according to the Napa County sheriff’s office.”
Authorities said the parked vehicle was unoccupied at the time of the collision, preventing what could have been a much more serious outcome involving injuries.
Witnesses at the scene told deputies that the driver initially stopped after the crash but then continued driving away from the location. Law enforcement officers later discovered a California Highway Patrol vehicle stopped behind a damaged brown convertible that was partially blocking traffic on Yountville Cross Road.
Deputies determined that Paul Pelosi was behind the wheel of the disabled convertible. Investigators noted that the vehicle had substantial damage concentrated on its front-right side, consistent with the earlier collision.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said Pelosi acknowledged that he struck an object but claimed he was uncertain what had been hit.
“Pelosi admitted to hitting something, but said he did not now what he had hit, so he kept driving,” the sheriff’s office said. “He drove until his car became disabled and was no longer able to continue driving.”
Authorities have not announced whether formal charges will be filed as the investigation remains ongoing. Officials have also stated that there is no evidence suggesting Pelosi was driving under the influence during Friday’s incident.
Nevertheless, the crash has renewed attention to Pelosi’s previous run-in with law enforcement stemming from a highly publicized alcohol-related collision in 2022.
That earlier case resulted in significant legal consequences after Pelosi was arrested following a crash in Napa County. In May 2022, he ultimately received three years of probation after pleading guilty in connection with the drunken driving incident.
Court records from that case painted a troubling picture of Pelosi’s condition during his arrest.
As previously reported, according to court documents, Paul Pelosi slurred his speech and had a ‘drug’ in his system during his drunk driving arrest on May 28, 2022.
Investigators also documented several physical signs commonly associated with impairment.
Pelosi had red, watery eyes, was “unsteady on his feet” and “he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.”
Another detail from the arrest generated considerable public attention at the time. According to previous reports, Pelosi presented officers with an “11-99 Foundation” card along with his driver’s license, prompting critics to question whether the gesture was intended to seek favorable treatment from law enforcement.
The 2022 collision occurred after investigators concluded Pelosi drove into an intersection without yielding.
According to the report, Pelosi pulled out onto S-29 to cross it, ignoring a stop sign, and was struck by Jesus V. Lopez, who was driving a 2014 Jeep. Lopez was reportedly traveling northbound on the state road.
The force of that impact caused extensive damage to the other driver’s vehicle.
The Jeep sustained “major collision damage.”
While Friday’s crash does not currently involve allegations of intoxication, it marks the second notable traffic incident involving Paul Pelosi in just a few years. As investigators continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding the alleged hit-and-run, the latest episode is likely to draw renewed scrutiny given his previous conviction and the high-profile status of the Pelosi family.
