B.J. Penn investigated for DUI, hospitalized after accident
UFC Hall of Famer and former two-division champion B.J. Penn is being investigated by the Hawaii Police Department after losing control while driving a black pickup truck and flipping the vehicle in front of a shopping mall at approximately 7 p.m. on Friday, February 7. The initial report came from BigIslandNow.com.
Police Cpt. Ken Quiocho said that police believe speed was “certainly a factor in the crash.” The investigation into a possible DUI was launched after HMC staff drew blood from Penn upon his admittance to the hospital – standard practice for victims of car accidents. HMC shared the results with police, which prompted the investigation, Quiocho said. He did not disclose Penn’s blood alcohol level since the investigation is ongoing.
Prior procedure allowed for police to conduct a blood draw at the scene of a one-vehicle accident involving only the driver if they believed alcohol or drugs to be involved.
That procedure was changed via state law and currently, a search warrant is required to conduct a blood draw under those circumstances, Quiocho explained. BAC results are invalid in Hawaii if procured more than three hours after an incident.
Penn, who was the only occupant inside, was transported by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center (HMC).
Penn, 41, last competed at UFC 237 in May 2019. The loss to Clay Guida marked his seventh in a row. He was later booked against Nik Lentz but the UFC promotion released him after videos of a street fight surfaced online.
