Napa deputies – Napa County sheriff’s deputies say they identified Paul Pelosi, 86, as the driver of a brown convertible that struck an unoccupied parked vehicle in Yountville and drove away. Deputies are recommending a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge involving property damage
For a second time, a Napa Valley crash has pulled Paul Pelosi into the middle of a high-profile legal situation—this time with deputies recommending a misdemeanor charge tied to leaving the scene.
The incident took place Friday afternoon in Yountville. a popular destination in Napa County wine country. according to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said the parked vehicle was left with major damage, but no injuries were reported. As of Saturday, the Napa County District Attorney’s Office had not announced any formal charges.
Deputies later identified the driver as Paul Pelosi, 86. They said they found a damaged brown convertible partially blocking Yountville Cross Road. and recommended a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge of fleeing the scene of an accident involving property damage. The sheriff’s officials said Pelosi was tested and that DUI is not suspected.
The crash unfolded around 2:30 p.m. Friday, when a witness called 911 after seeing a brown convertible traveling north on Yount Street strike an unoccupied parked vehicle. Investigators said the witness reported the driver briefly stopped before driving away.
Investigators said the front-right side of Pelosi’s vehicle had significant damage consistent with damage found on the parked car. Pelosi reportedly told deputies he knew he had hit something but did not know what he struck, and continued driving until his vehicle became disabled.
Sheriff’s officials said Pelosi was not arrested at the scene. noting that cases like this are commonly handled as misdemeanors. In addition to recommending the misdemeanor charge. the sheriff’s office said it is submitting a referral to the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a driver re-evaluation. a procedure commonly used for elderly drivers following incidents that raise potential safety concerns.
Paul Pelosi is a San Francisco businessman. investor and real estate developer who has been married to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi since 1963. While Nancy Pelosi spent decades representing San Francisco in Congress and became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Paul Pelosi has largely remained outside the political spotlight.
The Pelosis are widely recognized in California politics, with deep ties to San Francisco and national Democratic circles.
This is not the first time Paul Pelosi has faced criminal consequences tied to a Napa County crash. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI charges stemming from a Napa County crash. He was sentenced to probation, ordered to complete a drinking-driver program and pay fines and restitution.
The new incident also lands nearly four years after a violent attack at the Pelosis’ San Francisco home. In October 2022. an intruder broke into the couple’s Pacific Heights residence while Nancy Pelosi was in Washington. D.C. authorities said. The suspect was searching for the then-House Speaker and attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer. Pelosi suffered a skull fracture and other serious injuries and was hospitalized. The assailant was later prosecuted in federal and state court. and the attack prompted increased security concerns for elected officials and their families.
California law generally requires drivers involved in crashes that cause property damage to stop. exchange information. and make a reasonable effort to locate the owner of a damaged vehicle if it is unattended. Leaving the scene of a property-damage collision can result in misdemeanor charges, fines and other penalties.
In this case. Napa County authorities said no one was injured. but the sheriff’s office is recommending a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge based on allegations that Pelosi left the scene after striking the parked vehicle. A spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi’s office did not immediately respond to media requests for comment.
Paul Pelosi Napa County hit-and-run Yountville sheriff's office misdemeanor charge fleeing the scene DUI not suspected DMV re-evaluation property damage collision
So he just drove off… how is that even a misdemeanor??
Sounds like it was property damage only but leaving the scene is leaving the scene. I keep seeing DUI not suspected so people are acting like it’s no big deal? Kinda weird.
Wait it says no injuries, but it also says major damage. And they didn’t arrest him?? If it was Paul Pelosi wouldn’t they be doing more than “recommend a charge” like right away? Not sure how any of this works.
Misdemeanor hit-and-run… so basically like a ticket? This is the kind of stuff that makes me mad because if some regular person did that they’d be locked up or at least “charged” already. Also how they “identified” him, like did they just know his face? Napa wine country and brown convertible, c’mon. Either way, DUI not suspected doesn’t mean it’s okay.