Ward 8 Council Member Marion Barry caused a car accident early Friday in Southeast when he pulled out of a parking space without yielding to oncoming traffic, police said. The former mayor passed a sobriety test and was allowed to drive home.
Police issued Barry, whose long history of substance abuse problems is a matter of record, a $50 citation for failure to yield — a ticket he will appeal, according to his office. Though the responding officer checked off a box on the police report characterizing Barry as “ability impaired,” he submitted to a sobriety test and passed, according to his office.
“Mr. Barry is fine, and he’s keeping his planned work schedule today and for the rest of the weekend,” said a statement from Barry’s chief of staff.
According to the police report, Barry, driving a 1990 Mercedes-Benz, was leaving a parking space in the 1000 block of First Street Southeast at 12:10 a.m. when he “entered the roadway without caution.” A Silver Spring woman driving a 1999 Jeep Cherokee then struck the 70-year-old Barry’s car.
No one was injured in the accident.
There was a witness who said she saw what happened, but she refused to talk to police, the report said.
Marion Barry’s brushes withlaw:
— 2005: Pleaded guilty for failing to pay taxes
— 2002: U.S. Park Police allege drugs in Barry’s car. No charges filed.
— 1990: Sentenced to six months in federal prison for cocaine possession
