A California state senator from Riverside was cited for driving under the influence blocks away from the State Capitol in Sacramento Monday afternoon, authorities said.
Democratic Sabrina Cervantes, who represents Senate District 31, was taken to a local hospital following a collision with another vehicle, according to the Sacramento Police Department.
While at the hospital, Cervantes was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and cited with a misdemeanor before being released.
KTLA’s Eytan Wallace reported that Cervantes has issued a statement denying the charges and accusing police of “accosting” her.
“On Monday afternoon, while seeking care in the emergency room after my sedan was t-boned by a large SUV, I was accosted by Sacramento Police Department officers, falsely accused of driving under the influence, and involuntarily detained for several hours at the hospital,” Cervantes’ statement reads.
The lawmaker went on to describe how the incident has affected her.
“This ordeal was deeply distressing and left me even more shaken. As a Senator, wife, and mother, I hold myself to the highest standard and expect others that serve our communities to do the same. I want to be clear: I did nothing wrong,” Cervantes said. “The lab results I sought in the hospital show conclusively I had no alcohol in my system. I expect this to be quickly and justly resolved.”
A spokesperson for the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to a question from news outlet Politico about whether the senator has been or would be charged with DUI.
Senate District 31 encompasses parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the cities of Corona, Eastvale, Fontana, Jurupa Valley, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Perris, Riverside and San Jacinto, as well as several other communities and unincorporated areas.
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