If you hit a parked car hard enough to leave major damage, most people would probably stop, get out, and take a look.
According to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, that’s not what happened Friday afternoon when Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, allegedly crashed into an unoccupied vehicle in Yountville, California, and then drove away.
Authorities say the parked car, which was legally sitting along the roadway, sustained significant rear-end damage after being struck around 2:30 p.m.
A witness reportedly told deputies the driver briefly stopped before pulling away and continuing down the road.
Deputies soon located a damaged brown convertible partially blocking another roadway after it had apparently become disabled. Investigators identified the driver as 86-year-old Paul Pelosi.
According to the sheriff’s office, Pelosi acknowledged hitting something but said he didn’t know what it was, so he continued driving until his own vehicle could no longer continue.
That’s certainly one explanation.
Investigators ruled out alcohol as a factor in the crash, and because the alleged offense was a misdemeanor not committed in an officer’s presence, Pelosi was not arrested at the scene.
Instead, the case has been forwarded to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Authorities also said they will submit a California DMV driver re-evaluation referral, a routine step that can be taken following crashes involving elderly drivers to determine whether additional testing or restrictions are appropriate.
Through a family spokesperson, Pelosi apologized to the owner of the damaged vehicle and said he would take responsibility for the repairs.
The Pelosi family also indicated that no further public comment would be made regarding what they described as a private matter.
Whether prosecutors decide to file charges now rests with the district attorney.
For the owner of the parked car, however, one thing is already clear:
Their vehicle managed to stay exactly where it was supposed to be.
The moving car… not so much.
