Loaded Lugar: Senator's Wife, Charlene Lugar, Charged for Drunken Hit-and-Run

By: Sammy Rose Saltzman
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP)

Photo: Sen. Richard Lugar.

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) Charlene Lugar, wife of U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., has been charged with drunken driving and hit-and-run after hitting a parked car in northern Virginia.

Fairfax County Police say an officer stopped 76-year-old Charlene Lugar Wednesday evening at a McLean intersection after seeing damage to her car and smoke coming from the hood. Police later determined that she hit an unattended parked car about two miles away.

(Fairfax County Police )

Photo: Charlene Lugar's mug shot.

The charges she faces are misdemeanors.

In a statement, the senator said he is thankful that no one was injured and that he and his wife are "deeply sorry and embarrassed that this accident has occurred."

A trial is scheduled for Jan. 8 in Fairfax County General District Court.

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by ramos1129 November 23, 2009 10:08 AM EST

This is a private matter concerning only the Lugar family and law enforcement and the owner of the hit car. Everybody else should butt out.

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by Wildwood1966 March 31, 2010 3:46 PM EDT: I totally agree witht hat - if it were you or I not such a big deal would be made out of it and we sure wouldn't be on the crime blog - perhaps she does have a problem or it was a bad day - in either case she knows better then to drive after drinking and I am sure they could afford a DD or taxicab- thankfully the car was parked and no one was injured


by ekucrew November 23, 2009 9:40 AM EST: So will Sean Hannity wear this out the way he did with Joan Kennedy's zoned out driving debacle a few ywars ago... doubtful.; Reply to this comment


by erb0087 November 23, 2009 8:21 AM EST: She didn't run that Miley Cyrus bus off the road, did she ?; Reply to this comment


by robinspp November 23, 2009 6:45 AM EST: May be they are getting free supply of Alcohol from the health insurance Lobbyists.; Reply to this comment


by wyodutch November 23, 2009 6:36 AM EST: DUI!!!??? Oh my GOD!!!! The crime of the century!
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In unison now... let's all gasp and squeal as to how dangerous a DUI is. Then let's put on our "I support the troops" t-shirts and demand more bombings of the mud huts in Afghanistan.
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After all... we Murkans have to have our priorities in order.; Reply to this comment


by mejordelahistoria November 23, 2009 4:09 AM EST: She is embarrassed about the accident? what accident?, she commited a crime!! she should be jailed.; Reply to this comment


by cattiej November 23, 2009 12:06 AM EST: When you compare the 2 pictures, they almost look alike. Is the second picture Richard in drag? Regardless, this women needs help and she won't get it until she is driving drunk and kills someone or herself. Didn't Laura Bush hit someone with her car years ago? Anyone remember this? I think I read it somewhere. (If this comment doesn't end up on the cutting room floor it will be surprising) Richard Lugar and Charlene Lugar won't miss a beat, they will just continue to live as usual and the press will make this story go away,especially FOX; Reply to this comment


by babooph November 22, 2009 8:23 PM EST: They should call little Bush & Cheney-they get most of these "fixed"....; Reply to this comment


by tellitlikeitis1 November 21, 2009 5:18 PM EST: COME-ON! How much damage to a parked car can a broom do?; Reply to this comment


by sha_right November 21, 2009 5:03 PM EST: So, basically, she wouldn't have been charged with all this if there had been no signs of an accident. I mean, c'mon, it's pretty obvious that the police were put in a tight position here, and were forced to do something once they realized she committed a hit-and-run. I wonder how many political elites get out of DUI's. Unfortunately, I bet there are a lot. Frickin corruption. Also, I bet the cop was nervous as hell and pooped a brick when he/she found out exactly who she was and then felt forced to proceed with the charges (or when he received the okay from his/her supervisor).; Reply to this comment