Photographs have emerged showing significant damage to a Tesla that Paul Pelosi allegedly struck before driving away. The images reveal extensive damage to the rear driver's-side corner of the black electric vehicle following an alleged hit-and-run incident Friday in Yountville, California.
Authorities stated that Pelosi, 86, struck the parked vehicle with his brown convertible and then left the scene. The Tesla sustained damage to its rear quarter panel, including deep dents, scrape marks, a tear in the bumper, and shattered pieces found on the roadway. Brown paint transfer was visible on the damaged panels, and the impact reportedly pushed one of the Tesla's tires onto the curb.
Repairing a Tesla can be costly, particularly when damage affects exterior cameras and sensors used for its driver-assistance systems. The vehicle's aluminum body panels are also noted as being more difficult to repair than steel, being more prone to stretching and cracking.
Deputies from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office responded around 2:30 p.m. Friday to a report of a hit-and-run on Yount Street. A witness told investigators that a brown convertible hit the unoccupied Tesla, stopped briefly, and then drove away. Later that day, deputies located a brown convertible with significant front-right damage blocking Yountville Cross Road, approximately a quarter-mile from the initial incident.
Pelosi was identified as the driver. Officials reported that he did not have alcohol in his system. Because no injuries were reported, Pelosi was not arrested, but authorities recommended he face a misdemeanor charge for fleeing the scene of an accident. The sheriff's office also referred him to the Department of Motor Vehicles for an evaluation regarding his continued driving privileges, a process described as common for older motorists.
This incident adds to Pelosi's driving history. In May 2022, he was arrested in Napa County for driving under the influence following another crash. He subsequently pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI charges and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation, serving two days and completing the remainder through work programs and good-conduct credits.
Pelosi also has a history of severe car accidents dating back to his teenage years. In 1957, at age 16, he was involved in a fatal crash that killed his 19-year-old brother, David, in what was reportedly a sports car accident near San Mateo. A California Highway Patrol officer quoted by the San Francisco Examiner stated that David Pelosi had urged his brother to slow down moments before the crash.
A spokesperson for the Pelosis issued a statement after the recent incident, saying, “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 statement also noted, “Speaker Pelosi will not be commenting further on this private matter.”