State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes (D–Riverside) was cited for suspicion of impaired driving but denied having any alcohol and drugs in her system after a vehicle crash in Sacramento.
The big picture: The Sacramento police responded to the report of the vehicle crash involving Cervantes and cited her on suspicion of driving under the influence. She was taken to a hospital by a private party and treated for minor injuries.
- The police observed “objective signs of intoxication” and issued her a citation for suspicion of DUI. It was later specified that they believed Cervantes to be under the influence of drugs, not alcohol. The police did not conduct a breathalyzer test.
- Cervantes claimed no wrongdoing. She stated that she was seeking care in an emergency room after her vehicle was struck by another car and was then “accosted” by the police officers who accused her of driving under the influence and detained her for several hours.
- According to Cervantes, lab results she sought at the hospital showed she did not have alcohol or drugs in her system. She expressed being deeply distressed by the ordeal and emphasized holding herself to the highest standards as a Senator, wife and mother.
