Paul Pelosi involved in Yountville hit-and-run, Napa County sheriff’s office recommends misdemeanor charge

Paul Pelosi, the husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Yountville, California, and could face misdemeanor charges after deputies recommended he be charged with fleeing the scene of an accident, according to multiple reports citing statements from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.

The reports, citing a sheriff’s department statement obtained by The Associated Press, said the incident occurred Friday and involved a collision between a vehicle driven by Pelosi and a car that was parked legally on the side of the road. Authorities said there were no reported injuries.

According to the sheriff’s office statement as reported, a witness called 911 after seeing the crash. Deputies located Pelosi shortly afterward about a quarter mile down the road, with damage to the front of his car. He told officers he knew he had hit something but was unsure when or what caused the damage.

Authorities said Pelosi was not arrested and that he had no alcohol in his system, based on the sheriff’s office statement as reported. The statement also said deputies referred Pelosi to the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a process to determine whether he may continue driving, which officials described as common for older drivers.

The Napa County Sheriff’s Office reportedly recommended a misdemeanor charge for fleeing the scene of an accident because no one was physically injured. Whether prosecutors file charges, and what charge(s) would be brought, would depend on the subsequent decision by the county’s charging authorities, not on the recommendation reported by local law enforcement.

A spokesperson for the Pelosi family said in a statement Saturday that Paul Pelosi “personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage,” and that Speaker Pelosi would not comment further on the matter, according to reporting summarized by The Hill.

Reporting also referenced Pelosi’s prior criminal case in Napa County. In August 2022, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving under the influence charges after a late-night crash that injured another driver and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation; multiple outlets reported he served only a portion of the jail term with credit for good conduct and time in a work program.

The next steps for the case would include the DMV review for driving eligibility, and any action by prosecutors following the sheriff’s department recommendation, as well as any court process if charges are filed.