A California lawmaker accused of drunk driving blamed a crash on a sneeze

The alleged motive behind a Los Angeles lawmaker’s car crash has his GOP colleagues reacting: “We can’t believe it…another The California Democrat has been arrested for a DUI!”

“You could smell the alcohol. He was slurring his speech.”

The arrest Friday morning of 43-year-old California Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D) proved a difficult moment on more than one front, as the politician vying for a new seat was caught on camera trying to complete his field sobriety test.

Responding to reports of a crash after midnight near the Montecito Heights neighborhood, witnesses to the crash involving Carrillo’s vehicle and two others captured awkward steps by the Democrat, at one point seen backed up by an officer, who had his own startling claim as to how the collision had occurred.

“I’m sorry. I just … sneezed and lost track of the vehicle,” an officer could be heard saying in the video provided to ABC7.

Speaking to the outlet, a witness explained how they heard a “really loud, huge thump, and then they heard a skid. There are accidents that happen here all the time, so we knew straight away that it must have been an accident by car”.

“As soon as we looked over the balcony, you could see the Audi was in the middle of the street and the airbags deployed, and she was in there and you could see her moving and all that,” he described the witness. “We got out and asked if he was okay, he was gesturing with his hands like everything was okay, thumbs up and everything. As soon as he got out of the car and started talking to us, it was very clear to me, how to a non-expert, that she was intoxicated. She could smell alcohol. She was slurring her speech. She was very impaired.”

The lawmaker, who was trying to unseat Los Angeles City Council member Kevin de León with the support of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, would be arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after she was also seen using the front of a car to balance. while trying to comply with the officers’ requests.

According to an officer who responded, “LAPD has a policy of being completely transparent with the public. He pointed out to me that this person is an elected official in the state senate. So sometimes people who are considered, for lack of better term, dignitaries, we’re allowing them to do the investigation in a private setting. That doesn’t change the fact that she’s been drinking. She’s been involved in an accident.”

In his own statement to the LA Times, LAPD Capt. Kelly Muniz confirmed that Carrillo’s blood alcohol level was “twice the legal limit or more” and as for relocating the test, LAPD Chief Michel Moore had said in a statement: “A critical aspect of a field sobriety test is to provide a reasonable location for the individual being tested to assess impairment without obstruction or distraction. Officers conducting the investigation have the discretion to carry out the test in a place that best allows the assessment of people in an objective way”.

The California GOP reached out to X on Friday, stating, “Here’s some free advice for California Democrats: DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. We can’t believe we have to send another one of these emails, but another California Democrat Has Been Arrested For DUI! Democratic congresswoman and candidate for Los Angeles City Council, Wendy Carrillo, was arrested early this morning on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing into several parked cars. The LAPD even indicated that his blood alcohol count was “twice the legal limit or more.”

Read our latest how-to @CA_Dem just added Wasted @WendyCarrillo to his DUI caucus. https://t.co/r4BtPa2NNx pic.twitter.com/me3FSZDIwu

— CAGOP (@CAGOP) November 3, 2023

The arrest was a reference to the arrest in May of California state Sen. Dave Min (D), who had been briefly held in the Sacramento County Jail on suspicion of drunken driving, followed by the arrest of Riverside and Assembly hopeful Clarissa Cervantes, who had been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence just weeks after getting a prior DUI conviction dismissed.

“As a public servant, I am aware that I must adhere to a higher standard that demands personal responsibility for my conduct, and I accept responsibility for my actions,” Carrillo said in his own statement afterward to be released without bail. “I sincerely apologize to my family, constituents, colleagues and staff for any actions of mine that have fallen short of this expectation. I intend to seek the necessary help and support. As I do so, I remain dedicated to my family, my constituents and the community I grew up in and am proud to represent.”

Staff writer

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College, where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and seeker of truth, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and dog, and when he’s not researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel ·the.

Latest messages from Kevin Haggerty (see everything)

We have zero tolerance for comments that contain violence, racism, profanity, profanity, doxing, or rude behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it, click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for engaging with us in a fruitful conversation.

JOIN OUR NEW COMMENT SYSTEM! We love hearing from our readers and invite you to join us for feedback and good conversation. If you’ve commented with us before, we’ll need you to re-enter your email address for this. The public won’t see it and we won’t share it.