Sen. Lugar's wife charged in car crash

FAIRFAX, Va., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Charlene Lugar, wife of U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., is facing drunken driving and hit-and-run charges in suburban Washington, police said Thursday.

Police in Fairfax County, Va., said Charlene Lugar, 72, was arrested in McLean, Va., Wednesday night after allegedly driving into a parked car, The Washington Post reported.

The senator's office issued the following statement: "No other persons were in her car or the unattended car she hit. Thankfully, no one was injured. We are deeply sorry and embarrassed that this accident has occurred."

She was pulled over about 6:30 p.m. by an officer who spotted smoke rising from her damaged car. Officer Bud Walker said the officer at the scene "developed probable cause that she was intoxicated" and arrested her. Her alleged blood-alcohol content was not revealed.

The arresting officer determined she had hit a car nearby.

The senator's wife was taken to jail, given a Breathalyzer test and released several hours later, Fairfax sheriff's Lt. Sonny Cachuela said.