Paul Pelosi, 86, named suspected driver behind misdemeanor hit-and-run in Napa County

NAPA COUNTY - A driver who hit a parked car in Napa County and then drove away is suspected to be Paul Pelosi, the husband of former U.S. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, authorities said.

The incident happened Friday about 2:30 p.m. in the 6700 block of Yount Street in unincorporated Napa County. Nobody was injured.

In a statement, the Napa County Sheriff's Office said Paul Pelosi, 86, was behind the wheel in a brown convertible traveling north on Yount Street when it crashed into the unoccupied car. He then kept going, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies did not arrest him, which the sheriff's office said is in accordance with state misdemeanor law. They added that a preliminary alcohol screening showed that Pelosi with a 0.00 blood-alcohol level and that suspicions of driving under the influence were ruled out.

The sheriff's office said it will submit a case for misdemeanor hit-and-run to the Napa County District Attorney's Office.

The vehicle Pelosi is suspected of hitting sustained major rear damage, and the front right tire was forced onto the curb, authorities said. They added that a witness told them that after hitting the car, the driver stopped for a moment, then drove away. That witness also provided a description of the driver's vehicle.

A bit later, deputies spotted a California Highway Patrol vehicle parked behind a brown convertible that was partially blocking Yountville Cross Road in Yountville.

Deputies identified Pelosi with his driver's license, and his car had significant damage to its right front end consistent with the crash on Yount Street, the sheriff's office said. They added that Pelosi admitted to hitting something but that he didn't know what he'd hit, so he kept driving.

Pelosi drove until the car became disabled, the sheriff's office said.

Authorities will submit a California Department of Motor Vehicles reevaluation form to the DMV, a procedure they called a common occurrence for elderly drivers involved in incidents.

In May 2023, Paul Pelosi was arrested after a crash near Yountville. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation.

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This story was originally published July 4, 2026 at 2:58 PM.