Robert Novak Hits Pedestrian With His Black Corvette, Cited By DC Police

Politico's Jonathan Harris and Chris Frates report that Robert Novak was cited by DC police Wednesday morning after hitting a pedestrian with his black Corvette:

Syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak was cited by police after he hit a pedestrian with his black Corvette in downtown Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning.

A Politico reporter saw Novak in the front of a police car with a citation in his hand; a WJLA-TV crew and reporter saw Novak as well. The pedestrian, a 66-year-old male, was hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital with minor injuries, according to DC Fire and EMS. Novak was later released by police and drove away from the scene.

"I didn't know I hit him. I feel terrible," a shaken Novak told reporters from Politico and WJLA as he was returning to his car. "He's not dead, that's the main thing." Novak said he was a block away from 18th and K streets Northwest, where the accident happened, when a bicyclist stopped him and said, "You hit someone." He said he was cited for failing to yield the right of way.

The bicyclist was David Bono, a partner at Harkins Cunningham, who was on his usual bike commute to work at 1700 K St. N.W. when he saw the accident happen.

As he traveled east on K Street, crossing 18th, Bono said a "black Corvette convertible with top closed plowed into the guy. The guy is sort of splayed onto the windshield."

Watch a local DC news report on the Novak pedestrian accident:

In an exclusive interview with TMZ, Novak admitted that he was at fault but blamed NPR for distracting him while driving:

Novak tells us he was listening to NPR in his Corvette when suddenly, "Some guy came up and hit my car with his fist. I figured I had done something that had created road rage, but I didn't know what it was. Then a bicyclist blocked the road in front of me. I asked what the problem was. He said, 'You can't just hit people and run away!'"

Novak says the cops came, put him "briefly" in the back of the police car and asked about what he heard at the time of impact. Novak told them and us that he didn't hear or feel anything. They asked if he had been drinking or on a cellphone. He answered "no" to both.

Novak, who was citied for failing to yield, says he won't fight the ticket, adding, "I assume witnesses are telling the truth."

Comments

[levibatgirl]

How do you not notice someone hit your windshield while you're driving a corvette convertible?

Don't corvettes ride really low? They're almost like you're sitting on the ground.

[GuyRC]

Cell phone. I don't care if he denied it.

[Ashall]

Was he on a cellphone or otherwise distracted?

[CatfishJohn]

..some Prince George's county working class stiff drivign a 1997 beat up saturn is riding aorund d.c. looking for an office building where a job interview as a janitor awaits...h­e's confused on the whacky downtown d.c. street grid, he looks away at a turn and hits a 66 year old pedestrian. a harvard educated lawyer on a bike is eyewitness to the old man getting splayed acorss the car hood and indignantly chases down the unemployed guy looking for an address as he did novak. the cops come. ya think this guy is walking out of the police precinct with no substanbtial charges and a slap on the wrist $50 fine?????.­...the unemployed guy is held and awaiting a bond hearing, breathalyzed and his car has been impounded yesterday to who knows where...on­ce again, america's despicable , slanted celebrity justice system is at work....no­vak was probably laughing over the incident with his croneis over cigars and chivas last night...

[eemilla]

This is the point that should be being made; a hit and run is an egregious crime, but as long as you aren't a celebrity or otherwise wealthy, it's like jay walking.

[ignrnthllblly]

Look, I deplore Novak, but "taken into custody"? The facts are sufficient--let's not inflate them with helium, shall we?

[Levittown]

Novak is not one of my favorites but let the court decide on his fate. And then, come January 19th, 2009, friend George will pardon from ever having to be accountable for anything and everything­..

[rudiy]

Novak was worrying that his prediction that McCain would pick his VP this week may not come true and would be added to his reputation of being used to out Valerie Plame.

[brooklyncitizen]

Wow..what is it with Republicans inuring old people? how can you not tell the difference between someone splayed across your windshield and someone leaning on your car? he needs to be charged with hit and run.

[beaupritchard]

The "prince of darkness" tired of writng smack decides to mow em down one by one.

[Quilter]

This would make a great Simpson's episode...­Put that grandpa in the corvette next to Novak.

[Anastasia]

LOL! Perfect!

[Ladyrantsalot]

I don't get it. Novak plows into a pedestrian, the pedestrian flies up and is "splayed across the windshield," as the witness attests, and Novak claims not to have known he hit someone? That seems very hard to believe. Oh well, people like Novak are above the law anyway. He'll be expected to send a big, fat check to this elderly man, and no time will be done for hit-and-run. Accountability under the law is for the "little people," as Leona used to say.

[GeoLee]

And they apparently took his word that he was not under the influence of anything. You can bet your youknowwhat all of us would have had at the minimum a BAC on the sopt.

[owiseone]

And his insurance company will pay up, Novak will walk--rather DRIVE--away unscathed.
The victim will be left with injuries only manifesting days and months or years after he regains his thought processes from his brain injury (no matter how uninjured the man may appear, there is always bruising of the brain from that kind of impact, and there WILL be confusion, heightened emotion, fatigue, likely hood of eye damage, increased risk of stroke, and more).
The police officer who questioned him should be called up for not doing his job. Why was Novak not held until the officer had all the facts about the injured man?
Why wasn't Novak at least taken in for questioning and drug testing?
Why wasn't Novak, at his age, considered unfit to drive himself away from the scene?

[wdw101]

that is what insurance is for

[circusfifthfloor]

Did I read this correctly? After a short nap, I awaken a bit groggy sometimes at dusk. Really? He did what? And he drove away? I'm going back to sleep.....­CFF

[wagadog]

Bonfire of the Vanities, Part Duh, the DC edition.

[bikerdude]

Good analogy, only this time everyone was white and the dangerous neighborhood was 18th and K, or lobbyist row...Mayb­e Tom Wolfe will write a version 2...
I loved the book and HATED the movie.

[Forester]

dude u so rite - the depalma movie was a criminal waste of a great story.

[Teritt]

Novak listening to NPR...that­'s as unbelievable as me winning the lotto.

Why didn't they mention this on CNN yet?

[SouthPrairie]

Or not knowing that he hit someone.

[Querent]

Last time Cokie (!) Roberts was on, she repeated that McCain is a "maverick" at least four times, and based a large part of her prediction on that alleged "fact". I suppose Novak needs to know what stripe of bullshit Cokie (!) is serving up this week, and finding out on "Morning Edition" is probably much less tedious than talking to her in person. Maybe that's why he was listening.

[DRaymond]

Novak is clever, By denying that he had any knowledge of hitting the pedestrian he escapes a hit-and-run felony charge unless the person struck decides to file a criminal complaint. And the guy he hit may use the possibility of a criminal complaint to get a really fat and quick out-of-court settlement from Novak. Which Novak will quickly agree to because if "Rich Arrogant Media Loudmouth runs over pedestrian with his Vette" ever got in front of a jury it would be a big judgement and big in the press.

[beaupritchard]

You sound way too familiar with this ... not accusing ... just saying ... way too familiar(smile).

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Lawsuit!

Wrongful listening to NPR.

[offred]

One of the Kennedys hit a traffic barrier while intoxicated a couple of years ago, and that got big play from the right wing. Wanna bet the right wing makes a joke out of this, if they mention this at all?

If there is any fairness in the world, Novak will be sentenced to attend a refresher driver course. The paparazzi could photograph each stunning new outfit he wears to class each day.

[offred]

Hey, why didn't they give him a breathalyzer? Most people involved in a hit and run, even in the early morning, would have been tested for intoxication or drugs.

Inquiring minds want to know.

Also, next time his license is up for renewal, he better have to take a driving test, not just get an automatic renewal.