B.J. Penn Involved in Car Accident, Faces Possible DUI Charge

Photo Credit: Jason Silva - USA TODAY Sports
Penn has since been released from hospital according to his representative, Gary Levitt. 

Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion, B.J. 'The Prodigy' Penn has been involved in a single-car accident in his native Hawaii. Police are currently investigating Penn for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, after receiving results from a prior blood test after the accident.

On February 7th. police were informed that a black Toyota Tacoma pickup truck had flipped outside a shopping mall in Hilo, Hawaii - and was reported to have been "speeding" and "losing control". Penn was transported to a medical facility for treatment after police arrived on the scene, where they found Penn inside the vehicle.

Police later released a statement - detailing how results of the test would be sent to the Hilo prosecutors office for "screening and potential charging". In an earlier release, police told how Penn was under investigation in relation to, "operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, consuming or possessing liquor while operating a motor vehicle and inattention to driving."

The 41-year-old last competed at lightweight, losing a unanimous decision to Clay Guida at UFC 237. The defeat to Guida marked Penn's seventh straight professional loss. Penn was booked to meet with Nik Lentz in July of last year - but was pulled from the pairing after video footage showed Penn involved in a street fight where the Hawaiian was knocked unconscious, rather alarmingly. UFC president Dana White later confirmed Penn's release from the promotion - and elected against ever booking him in the future.

A statement was released by B.J. Penn's representative, Gary Levitt - in which he denied that Penn's Toyota Tacoma had flipped in a single vehicular accident.

"No one has the facts yet, and from the facts we have looked at, the truck never flipped, there was not extensive damage on it that they said there was, and B.J. (Penn) was, in fact, knocked out because the front airbag deployed. He was taken to hospital and then a short time later, he was taken for scans because he was knocked out and he was going in and out (of consciousness). Then, they released him from hospital."

➜Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ross_Markey

➜Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RossMarkeyMMA/

➜Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rossmarkeymma/