Paul Pelosi in hit-and-run in Napa County wine country, car left with major damage, authorities say

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SAFIYAH RIDDLE
Updated 4:33 PM CDT, July 4, 2026

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ‘s husband was involved in a hit and run on Friday in California’s wine country that left one car with “major damage,” according to local authorities, who said that the 86-year-old could face misdemeanor charges for the collision.

Paul Pelosi was driving his brown convertible in Yountville, a small town in the heart of wine country in Napa County, when he struck a legally parked car on the side of the road, briefly stopped and then drove away, Napa County Sheriff’s department said in a news release on Saturday. There were no reported injuries.

A witness saw the collision and called 911. Shortly after, sheriff’s deputies then found Paul Pelosi with severe damage to the front of his car on a nearby road roughly one quarter of a mile away. The octogenarian told officers that he knew he hit something but wasn’t sure when or what caused the damage to his car.

Paul Pelosi didn’t have any alcohol in his system at the time of the crash, according to the statement. The sheriff’s department referred Paul Pelosi to the California Department of Motor Vehicles to initiate a process that will determine whether he is able to continue driving — a process that officials say is “common” for elderly drivers.


Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her husband Paul arrive at the funeral services for Clive Davis at Central Synagogue in New York, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-hit-run-napa-county-nancy-03222e98042228c070971a4d13f8a861

[Bluestocking]

1. Time to take his license away

He can afford to hire a driver.

[AZJonnie]

2. You add a rather serious prior head injury to being 83 yo in the first place

Probably shouldn't have been driving anymore for awhile now

As an aside, I really wish I was in Yountville right now instead of Phoenix. I that town. SO cute!

Happy 4th, y'all

[Rebl2]

13. Should have

had a driver several years ago.

[Lemon Lyman]

3. Dude

Dude.

As someone who's been a victim of hit-&-runs multiple times, I'm glad he got caught. At the very least you leave a note with all of your info.

[erronis]

4. Yup. Leaving the scene of a major accident shows a loss of critical thinking skills.

[SWBTATTReg]

5. A shame but all elderly drivers go through this process. My dad the same thing, but in his case, they pulled

him over at the Lake of the Ozarks (some 50 miles away from home), and were nice enough to point him in the right direction to get home (2 lane roads in the middle of the Ozarks). My dad told me not to tell Mom, but I eventually did, fear of him causing harm to himself and/or others.

Every family have to go through this, some independence is valued, but how far does one go? Must consider others on the road besides yourselves.

[NJCher]

8. our town in a blue county of NJ

sponsors a senior jitney. You do have to get qualified and there are certain rules, but you can get rides about anywhere.

[SWBTATTReg]

19. This is very nice and good for the families and seniors involved. Sounds like we need to have more of these

around.

[SWBTATTReg]

20. Wanted to elaborate more on this ... my brother was going to move into my Mom's house at the Lake of the Ozarks after

months and months of discussions, and he was going to, but then my Mom had a stroke or something similar (we really don't know what), and she passed away. Of course it devastated us, but in a way, her living out there 22 miles from the nearest town (Lebanon MO) w/ no one else there made it rather difficult to handle things, get meds delivered, etc. One thing that I wanted to clarify more on, is that they wanted to live in where they lived for quite a few years, in the Country, no really close neighbors, doctor's appts etc. all umpteen miles away. I took my Dad for some of his dental work, at the Lake of the Ozarks, and while it was nice, can you imagine doing this for everything? It's hard. And my Mom didn't want to move either. So you're in a rock and hard spot.

We did manage to hire someone to do cleaning around the house, do some errands around the house too, but when you have a rather large place, w/ 18 acres, it becomes a handful.

Well, anyways, my Mom and Dad are both gone, and the only one left of us four siblings, is me and my sister. Her family has (two sons) has stepped in and bought Mom and Dad's place (makes sense, it's like having Grandma and Grandpa's place). We seem to be managing, (or they are), and I'm glad that the kids have the place. I'm glad that I don't have it, since when I fully moved back to STLMO, I left my small ranch, 2 plots of land, four mobile homes, which I'm happy to not have to mess with.

Good luck to all of you in dealing w/ your elderly loved ones. We do love them dearly and want the best in the world for them. It's just figuring out 'what is the best thing'?

[Rebl2]

15. Had

to do the same with my parents. They were not happy, but they eventually realized it was for their own good and others.

[blue_jay]

6. There's a good chance he shouldn't be driving

but he was not done any favors by the hammer attack, so I guess I hold some sympathy because of that. Also, I am not about to make back seat driver judgements about the mental faculties of those I don't know well. The family needs to figure that out. There are plenty of younger rage and adrenaline filled idiot drivers I'd be more worried about (generally speaking) when I am out on the roads.

[Tree Lady]

7. We had to take my moms car away from her after multiple

Times she hit curbs and things in parking lots thankfully not cars. She was driving 35 mph on freeway.

I had doctor talk to her because she was fighting me on it. She was early 90’s. Should have quit sooner.

[hunter]

10. It was a difficult conversation with my dad.

[MichMan]

9. Penalty could be up to 6 months jail according to the statute

[LisaL]

12. I really doubt they would do that to an 83 year old.

NT

[MichMan]

16. I doubt they will file any charges at all given who he is

Last edited Sat Jul 4, 2026, 11:45 PM - Edit history (1)

His age is 86

[hamsterjill]

11. Oh, the MAGA's will love this, of course.

He needs to pay for any damage, face the consequences, and give up the keys.

[Brother Buzz]

14. The French Laundry?

[snot]

17. Way too many bad drivers on the road,

at least in my town.

I don't see why one couldn't create a digital, simulated road test and require licensees to pass it from time to time in order to renew their licenses.

[Beringia]

18. A lot of speedsters too, sometimes I am glad to see police just waiting for them on busy steets

[Polybius]

21. This is why I can't wait for self-driving cars to be in sync with each other and perfected

The tech will one day be there. Hell, even with today's tech, I'd feel safer in a self-driving car then with someone 86.