Paul Pelosi, the 86-year-old husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was involved in a hit-and-run collision in Yountville on Friday that left a parked vehicle with major damage, according to the Napa County Sheriff's Office.
The incident occurred when Pelosi was driving his brown convertible in the heart of California wine country. He struck a legally parked car on the side of the road, briefly stopped, and then drove away, authorities said in a statement released Saturday. No injuries were reported in the collision.
A witness observed the collision and immediately contacted 911. Sheriff's deputies located Pelosi approximately a quarter of a mile from the scene, with visible damage to the front of his vehicle. According to the sheriff's office statement, Pelosi told officers he knew he had struck something but was uncertain about when the impact occurred or what caused the damage to his car.
Authorities confirmed that Pelosi did not have any alcohol in his system at the time of the incident. He was not arrested following the collision. Because no injuries resulted from the crash, the sheriff's office recommended a misdemeanor charge for fleeing the scene of an accident.
The Napa County Sheriff's Office has referred Pelosi to the Department of Motor Vehicles for a process to determine whether he may continue to drive. Officials noted that such referrals are common practice for older drivers involved in similar incidents.
This marks the second time in recent years that Pelosi has faced legal issues related to driving. In 2022, he 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, though he served only two days in jail and received good conduct credit for two additional days. He completed the remaining day through a work program at the courthouse.
As part of his probation from the 2022 case, Pelosi was required to attend a three-month drinking driver class and install an ignition interlock device in his vehicle. The device requires drivers to provide a breath sample proving sobriety before the engine will start. He was also ordered to pay approximately $5,000 in victim restitution for medical bills and lost wages, along with nearly $2,000 in fines.
In 2022, Pelosi was also the victim of a violent attack at the couple's San Francisco home, where he was severely beaten with a hammer. The assault drew national attention and raised concerns about threats against public officials and their families.
A staffer for Nancy Pelosi did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Friday's incident.
