BJ Penn has had some difficulty staying out of trouble now that his UFC career appears to be officially over, and the latest incident he was involved in could result in charges.
Police in Hilo, Hawaii, told Max Dible of BigIslandNow.com that Penn is under investigation for possibly driving while under the influence during a serious car accident that occurred last week. Penn was driving alone in a black Toyota Tacoma pickup truck last Friday when it was involved in a single-car crash. A witness who called police said the truck was speeding, lost control and flipped over near a shopping plaza.
According to a report from TMZ, Penn was taken to a local hospital and released shortly after. He is said to be doing fine.
Police believe speed was “certainly a factor in the crash,” but they were unable to administer a blood alcohol content test at the scene, as a fairly new state law requires a search warrant to conduct a blood draw when there is a single-car crash and the person requires medical attention.
A blood draw was administered at the hospital where Penn was treated, and the results are reportedly being shared with police.
Penn was originally scheduled to have one last fight in the UFC despite losing his previous seven, but Dana White said in September that Penn is not going to fight again in the UFC after he was involved in multiple bar brawls in Hawaii. Penn, who is 41, has an overall record of 16-14-2.
