CA lawmaker’s hospital report, drug screen show clean result after DUI accusation
The Southern California legislator cited by Sacramento police officers on suspicion of DUI this week released medical reports that indicate she had no drugs in her system as she ratcheted up her fight to refute authorities’ allegations.
“The accusation that I was driving under the influence is utterly false,” state Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside, said in a statement, adding that the results of medical tests “show conclusively that I had no alcohol or drugs in my system — and that my vital signs and behavior were ‘normal.’”
“The Sacramento Police Department’s accusations are unjust and hold no truth,” Cervantes’ statement Wednesday concluded.
The two reports obtained by The Sacramento Bee include an 11-page summary of her examination by emergency department physicians at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center. A second report contained the results of a urine drug screen for alcohol as well as a drug abuse panel, which tests for a host of controlled substances including barbiturates, cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone and THC.
Cervantes’ blood-alcohol level registered at 0.01%, according to the physician’s report. The results of the drug screen: Undetectable, the report read.
The reports also showed the 37-year-old Cervantes, chair of the Senate Elections Committee who also sits on the Senate banking and transportation committees, has a history of asthma.
Sacramento Police Department would not comment Thursday on Cervantes’ release of medical records.
Sacramento police rely on Sacramento County District Attorney’s Crime Lab analyses of samples to determine findings in driving under the influence cases, Officer Allison Smith, a Sacramento Police Department spokeswoman, said Thursday.
Cervantes’ vehicle was broadsided by a sport utility vehicle about 1:30 p.m. Monday near 14th and S streets, according to police. A private party took Cervantes to Kaiser South Sacramento Medical Center for treatment.
The physician’s report obtained by The Bee contains the summary of events as told to the doctor by Cervantes:
“Patient states that she was T-boned on passenger side of car by another vehicle while at a stop. Estimates other car was going 35-45 mph. Patient was restrained driver. No airbag deployment. States left side of her body hit the side of the car but denies head strike or loc (loss of consciousness). Was able to self-extricate and was ambulatory on scene,” the summary read.
Cervantes was cited Monday by Sacramento police on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs as she was being treated at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center’s emergency room.
Officers who interviewed Cervantes “observed objective signs of intoxication and conducted a DUI investigation,” police officials said.
But the Inland Empire lawmaker has forcefully denied the allegations, accusing officers of accosting her and detaining her against her will while at the hospital.
“This ordeal was deeply distressing and left me even more shaken,” Cervantes said in a Wednesday statement prior to releasing her records. “I want to be clear: I did nothing wrong.”
Smith, the Sacramento police spokesperson, said officers’ body-worn camera footage showed no signs of mistreatment by officers on Monday.
“Officers conducted a thorough investigation and remained professional and respectful throughout it,” Smith said.
The Bee has requested the video footage through a Public Records Act request.
This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM.
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