The Napa County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that Paul Pelosi, husband of Representative Nancy Pelosi, is facing a hit-and-run charge following an incident in Yountville, California, on Friday. According to the office’s press release, the incident occurred in the heart of wine country around 2:30 p.m. local time. A witness reported seeing a brown convertible hitting a parked, unoccupied vehicle, damaging its rear, and then departing the scene.
Investigators identified the driver as 86-year-old Paul Pelosi. No injuries were reported, and he was not arrested for the misdemeanor offense. The sheriff’s department will send a driver re-evaluation referral to the California DMV, a common procedure for elderly drivers.
Pelosi informed deputies he realized he hit something but did not know what it was. He continued driving until his vehicle became inoperable. Testing ruled out Driving Under the Influence as there was no alcohol detected.
Previously, in May 2022, Pelosi pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence in Napa County. He received a sentence of five days in jail and three years of probation. However, he served only two days in jail with two additional days credited for good conduct. He completed the final day’s sentence through a work program at the local courthouse. His probation included attending a three-month drinking driver class and installing an ignition interlock device on his car. Pelosi also paid approximately $5,000 in victim restitution for medical bills and lost wages, alongside almost $2,000 in fines.
The incident isn’t Pelosi’s first motor vehicle controversy; a 1957 San Francisco Examiner report detailed a crash involving 16-year-old Paul that resulted in the death of his brother, David Pelosi.
Who Is Paul Pelosi?
Paul Pelosi was previously in the news in October 2022, following an attack at his San Francisco home. An intruder, David DePape, broke in and assaulted him with a hammer. Pelosi suffered multiple injuries, including a skull fracture, and underwent surgery. DePape was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Pelosi operates Financial Leasing Service, a venture capital investment firm. He was also the previous owner of the Sacramento Mountain Lions football team. Born and raised in San Francisco, Pelosi has been married to Nancy since 1963.