Authorities said the 86-year-old struck a parked car in Yountville and later was found nearby.
YOUNTVILLE, CA — Paul Pelosi could face a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge after authorities said he struck a parked car Friday in Napa County and drove away from the scene, leaving the vehicle with major damage.
The case places Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, back before Napa County authorities four years after a separate drunken driving case in the same county. The latest incident did not involve reported injuries, and officials said early findings did not show alcohol use. Prosecutors must still decide whether to file a criminal charge.
Napa County sheriff’s deputies responded around 2:30 p.m. Friday to a report of a hit-and-run crash in the 6700 block of Yount Street in Yountville, a small wine country town north of Napa. Authorities said Pelosi, 86, was driving when his vehicle hit an unoccupied car that was legally parked along the street. The parked vehicle had major damage, officials said. Pelosi briefly stopped after the crash but then left, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies later found his vehicle about a quarter-mile from the crash site with front-end damage. Pelosi told investigators that he knew he had hit something but did not know what it was, authorities said.
The sheriff’s office said Pelosi was not arrested at the scene. Officials said no one was hurt, and there was no sign that he had alcohol in his system. A family spokesperson said Pelosi has taken responsibility for the damage and apologized to the owner of the parked car. The spokesperson also said Nancy Pelosi would not comment on what was described as a private matter. Investigators referred the case to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office for review. The office will decide whether the evidence supports a misdemeanor charge under California law for leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage.
Under California Vehicle Code 20002, a driver involved in a crash that damages property is required to stop, identify themselves and provide contact and vehicle information. A misdemeanor conviction can carry up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Restitution and driving record penalties also can be part of a sentence. The possible jail term does not mean Pelosi will serve time. Prosecutors have not announced a filing decision, and a judge would decide any penalty only if a charge is filed and Pelosi is convicted or enters a plea.
The sheriff’s office also referred Pelosi to the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a driving capability review. The DMV says reexaminations can be triggered when the agency receives information about a driver’s medical condition, mental condition or driving record. The agency says age alone is not the basis for a reexamination. A review can include questions about the incident, medical information, a vision test, a written test or a behind-the-wheel test, depending on what DMV officials decide is needed. The result can range from no action to restrictions, suspension or revocation of driving privileges.
The crash brought renewed attention to Pelosi’s 2022 case in Napa County. In that case, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury after a collision near State Route 29 and Walnut Lane. He was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation, with credit and work program time reducing the amount left to serve. He also was ordered to complete an alcohol education program and pay fines and restitution. That case involved a separate crash and is not part of the new investigation, but it adds context to the public scrutiny around the Yountville incident.
Yountville is a Napa Valley town known for restaurants, tasting rooms and narrow downtown streets that draw heavy visitor traffic, especially around holiday weekends. The crash happened during the Fourth of July period, when law enforcement agencies across California often increase road patrols. The sheriff’s office said the damaged car was parked and unoccupied, limiting the case to property damage based on the information released so far. Officials have not identified the owner of the parked vehicle, the exact model of Pelosi’s vehicle, the estimated cost of repairs or whether any traffic camera video or witness statements will be part of the review.
The next step is with the Napa County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors can file the misdemeanor charge, decline to charge Pelosi or request more investigation from deputies. If a charge is filed, Pelosi would receive a court date in Napa County Superior Court. The DMV review would move on a separate track from any criminal case. As of Tuesday, July 7, no court filing had been publicly announced in the hit-and-run matter.
Author note: Last updated Tuesday, July 7, 2026.