Real Housewives of Potomac Season 9 just kicked off with a bang and a crash. The collision part arrived courtesy of Karen Huger, who found herself charged with a DUI immediately following her wreck. Once the police arrived on the scene of her accident, however, Karen somehow managed to avoid an arrest. Yet, Karen received multiple citations, and she even lost her car, as the damages that her collision caused were beyond repair. During the premiere episode of Season 9, Karen deflected this life-changing narrative like a skilled professional, but, unfortunately for her, court proceedings are public, so a lot of information has since leaked out to the masses. Without further ado, here is a quick explainer of Karen’s DUI charges since she (mostly) glossed over these details on air.
But also, can DUIs please stop trending on Bravo?
On the night of March 19, 2024, Karen Huger crashed her car, earning herself multiple charges
As first reported on by TMZ, during the evening of March 19, 2024, Karen wrecked her 2017 Maserati. According to the police, she had been driving aggressively. When TMZ reached out for additional details, they learned that Karen struck a median and a crosswalk sign at an intersection. Following these impacts, Karen continued driving, but her road ended after she ran into a parking sign located off the street.
Her car died, but Karen managed to walk unharmed. Better yet, no one else was hurt. Had an innocent life been touched, Karen would have been in deep sh*t, not just with the law but also with her fan base on Bravo.
Even though the police smelled liquor on Karen, she was also able to avoid an arrest after her crash. However, she did receive multiple citations. According to PEOPLE, these citations include driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Karen is also facing charges of negligent driving, endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.
Additional charges were also filed, including failure to control a vehicle’s speed on the highway to avoid a collision, driving above reasonable and prudent speeds, driving with a suspended registration, and failure to notify the administration of a change to her address within 30 days.
It’s a good thing Karen has money. And friends who will deliver pizza to her door so she does not have to drive.
Karen Huger releases a statement to TMZ on March 20, 2024
Not wasting time, Karen released a statement to TMZ the following day. “Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes during this frightening experience. I am still in shock from last night’s incident but grateful to be alive today. With the passing of my beloved mother, grief comes and goes in waves, and with Mother’s Day approaching, it has felt more like a tsunami,” Karen began, making zero comments about her alleged liquor intake that night.
Karen then gave the backstory on this fateful night, explaining, “Last night, I met a girlfriend for dinner. We talked and brought up some very emotionally sensitive topics. I was crying on my way home and saw a car heading right for me. I swerved to avoid the head-on collision, [and] hit the divider and then a tree.”
Karen was “bruised up a bit, but so grateful” to be alive. On her citations, Karen admitted that she received several, but “one of which was unrelated to the incident, which is understandable.” What Karen found “the most surprising is that the car that almost hit me just drove away!”
To end, Karen stressed, “It is important to understand your emotional state when driving, and may this be a reminder to all to use their seatbelts. My mother may be my Guardian Angel, but the seatbelt saved my life.”
You heard it here first, friends. Seatbelts save lives. So do Uber drivers. But I digress.
During Episode 1 of RHOP Season 9, Karen’s DUI (somewhat) enters the chat
The producers on RHOP are top-tier. When RHOP Season 9 kicked off, they dramatically reenacted Karen’s crash. However, a deer was present in their scenes, while, according to Karen on Watch What Happens Live this week, zero deer were present.
Following this reenactment, Gizelle Bryant arrived to pick up Karen for filming breakfast. While driving, Gizelle asked Karen if seeing her crash site might trigger her emotions. Karen did not engage.
At breakfast, Karen continued disengaging. She then received a random assist from a waiter, who stated Karen never drinks alcohol at this restaurant. Cue Gizelle, reminding the waiter that alcohol is not on their menu.
When Gizelle went in for the kill, the Teflon giant Karen told her to read it herself. Instead of discussing this incident on national television, Karen wanted Gizelle to ask Google her questions, not her, the driver behind the now-busted wheel.
Karen then noted that the truth would come out. She also managed to take the heat off her back by turning her narrative around on her gossipy costars.
“What I want to know, and I am just trying to figure out: Who is my real friend?” she asked during the premiere episode of Season 9. “Because this is an opportunity for you guys to swing whichever way you want. I want to see who the real soldiers for Karen Huger are because I certainly do not want any fake bitches around me,” she stressed, silencing the ladies in her true Grande Dame style.
Karen Huger sadly has a history with DUIs
This DUI is not her first DUI, sadly. She was also arrested on similar charges almost 10 years ago. In this situation, she stated that she had enjoyed a celebratory dinner before getting in her car to drive back to her house in MD. But the police stopped her from reaching her location.
“I pulled over,” Karen exclusively told BOSSIP. “Technically, I wasn’t driving. I was pulled over into a parked area where you should not park. I turned off the car, and I called my husband. However, the teddy bear cops found me first, and I collected my DUI,” she said.
Karen later pled guilty to “Driving While Impaired By Alcohol.” She received probation.
This stylish star has also grown notorious for her drunken antics on RHOP. Charrisse Jackson Jordan accused Karen of getting drunk and cheating on her husband during a bachelorette party, insinuating that the whole town knew about it.
During the first episode, Ashley Darby even touched on Karen and her drinking, reminding us all that this is, again, her second DUI.
Even still, Karen insists that the truth will come out. Whatever that means.
Good luck in court, Karen. And please, no more DUIs.
TELL US – WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHILE WATCHING KAREN HUGER’S DUI REENACTMENT ON RHOP SEASON 9, EPISODE 1? CAN SHE SAY ANYTHING THAT WILL MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE?
