04 November 2023 , 18:16
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A politician from California who was taken into custody by cops after a horror crash and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence has claimed she sneezed and lost control of the car.
Wendy Carrillo, 43, who is running for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council, reportedly registered a blood alcohol level that was more than double the legal limit and was subsequently arrested. She had crashed into several parked cars and swayed and staggered across a road as police had her perform a field sobriety test, which she failed.
Carrillo was captured in humiliating footage struggling to walk in a straight line. In a video obtained by Fox11 the lawmaker tells officers: 'I'm sorry I sneezed, I lost track of the vehicle." Locals at the scene said they heard a loud bang from the crash which sent her Audi back into the middle of the road.
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Wendy Carrillo was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a crash (KTLA5)A witness who went to aid Carrillo, whose airbags had activated in her crumpled car, told ABC7 it was 'really clear' she was intoxicated, adding: "You could smell alcohol. She was slurring her speech. She was very impaired." The Democrat who has been in the California legislature since 2017, and has been seen several times with Governor Gavin Newsom, including on a trip to her home country of El Salvador in 2019.
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The politician has become a rising star in the party in recent years, after fleeing the El Salvadorian Civil War aged five and becoming the first former illegal immigrant to be elected to California's State Assembly. She was seen in footage looking up at the sky while cops tried to help her begin a field sobriety test.
Wendy Carrillo is a rising star in the Democratic Party (AP)A police officer had to steady Carrillo and help her adjust as soon as she took a small step forward, before she appeared to slump forward and stare at the floor. She was later seen using a car bumper for support as she stumbled through the test before the officers allowed her to finish the test in private because she is a 'dignitary'.
She was taken into custody at Los Angeles County jail just after 4am and released without bail at around 1pm on Friday. Carrillo later apologised over the crash but did not speak about her alleged DUI. She said: "As a public servant, I am aware that I must adhere to a higher standard that demands personal accountability for my conduct and I accept responsibility for my actions,' she said in a statement.
'I sincerely apologise, to my family, constituents, colleagues and staff for any actions of mine that have fallen short of that expectation. I intend to seek the necessary help and support. I intend to seek the necessary help and support. As I do so, I remain dedicated to my family, my constituents and the community that I grew-up in and am proud to represent.' She is due to appear in court on December 1.
Carrillo's Audi was heavily damaged (KTLA5)The owner of the car hit by Carrillo, said she slammed into the parked cars, describing it as a "very loud, huge bang, and then heard like skidding". She explained: "There's crashes that happen right here all the time, so we knew right away that it was for sure a car crash, adding that he and his friends looked out to find Carrillo still inside her vehicle.
"As soon as we looked out the balcony, you could see her Audi was in the middle of the street, and airbags deployed, and she was in there and you could see her moving and stuff,' he continued. "We walked out and asked if she was okay, she was hand gesturing like she was all good, thumbs up and stuff.
"As soon as she got out of the car and started talking to us, it was really clear to me, as a non-expert, that was she was intoxicated. You could smell alcohol. She was slurring her speech. She was very impaired." After Carrillo was allowed to finish her sobriety test away from any witnesses, the video captured one of the officers explaining that he let her do so because she is a politician.
"It was brought to my attention that this person is an elected official in the state senate,' the officer said. "So sometimes, for people that are considered to be, for lack of a better term, a dignitary, we allow them to do the investigation in a private area. It does not change the fact that she has been drinking. She has been involved in a crash."
As a rising star in California's Democratic Party, Carrillo has been seen working with Governor Gavin Newsom on numerous events in recent years, including on a trip to El Salvador in 2019.
Ahead of her re-election last year, Governor Newsom endorsed the 43-year-old as a "tireless champion for working people, families, and safe COVID economic recovery efforts". He said he has "worked closely with Wendy" on a number of issues, and "has a proven, progressive record" that he was proud to endorse.
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