Paul Pelosi in Hot Water After ‘Hit-and-Run’

Newly released photographs reveal the mangled Tesla that Paul Pelosi allegedly struck before driving away from the scene of a California crash.

The images show extensive damage to the black electric vehicle’s rear driver’s-side corner following Friday’s alleged hit-and-run in Yountville, a wealthy community in the heart of Napa Valley wine country.

Authorities say Pelosi, the 86-year-old husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was driving a brown convertible when he slammed into the parked and unoccupied Tesla before leaving the area.

The force of the impact crushed the Tesla’s rear quarter panel inward, leaving behind deep dents, heavy scrape marks, a large tear in the bumper and shattered debris scattered across the roadway.

Brown paint transfer could also be seen smeared across the damaged panels, while the collision appeared to have pushed one of the Tesla’s tires onto the curb.

The damage could prove especially costly because Teslas are equipped with exterior cameras and sensors used for the company’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems.

Repairs involving those components can quickly become expensive. Tesla’s aluminum body panels are also generally more difficult to repair than traditional steel because they are more prone to stretching and cracking.

According to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called at around 2:30 p.m. Friday to reports of a hit-and-run in the 6700 block of Yount Street.

A witness told investigators that a brown convertible struck the parked Tesla, stopped briefly and then sped away.

Later that day, deputies found a brown convertible with major front-right damage blocking Yountville Cross Road, roughly a quarter-mile from where the Tesla had been hit.

The driver was identified as Pelosi.

Authorities said Pelosi did not have alcohol in his system.

Because no one was injured, deputies did not arrest him. However, they recommended that he face a misdemeanor charge for allegedly fleeing the scene of an accident.

The sheriff’s office also referred Pelosi to the California Department of Motor Vehicles for an evaluation to determine whether he should continue driving. Officials said such referrals are common when older motorists are involved in crashes.

The Pelosi family estate is located nearby on Zinfandel Lane in St. Helena.

The latest incident adds to Pelosi’s troubled history behind the wheel.

In May 2022, the San Francisco businessman was arrested in Napa County for driving under the influence after another crash.

He later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI charges and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation.

Pelosi ultimately served two days behind bars, received good-conduct credit for two additional days and completed the final day through a courthouse work program.

He was also involved in a fatal crash when he was a teenager.

In 1957, when Pelosi was 16 years old, he flipped his sports car near San Mateo, killing his 19-year-old brother, David.

David had reportedly urged him to slow down moments before the crash, according to a California Highway Patrol officer quoted by the San Francisco Examiner.

A spokesman for the Pelosis said Paul Pelosi had apologized to the owner of the damaged Tesla and promised to cover the cost of the repairs.

“Mr. Paul Pelosi has personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle,” the spokesman said.

The statement added: “Speaker Pelosi will not be commenting further on this private matter.”