The Real Housewives of the Potomac star Karen Huger was charged with a DUI following a single-vehicle crash Tuesday, the Washington Post reported. Huger was arrested in Maryland after her 2017 Maserati veered into oncoming traffic and took out multiple street signs.
The Montgomery County Police Department shared the details with E! News. "Preliminarily, it appears that the car crossed a median and struck street signs," a spokesperson said.
"The driver, Karen Huger, was taken into custody and transported to the 2nd District station in Bethesda, where she was arrested and cited for driving under the influence. She was then released," the person added.
The 60-year-old reality Bravo TV personality shared her version of the events, including her emotional state that she believes contributed to the crash. "Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes during this very frightening experience," she told TMZ the day after the crash.
"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," Huger explained.
She claimed that dinner with a friend where they discussed "some very emotionally sensitive topics" led to the crash. "I was crying on my way home and saw a car heading right for me. I swerved to avoid the head-on collision, hit the divider and then a tree," Huger said.
"I'm hurt, bruised up a bit, but so grateful I am alive! I did receive citations, one of which was unrelated to the incident which is understandable, but what was most surprising is that the car that almost hit me just drove away!" she added.
Huger had some advice for her fans after this. "I would like to stress, it's important to understand your emotional state when driving and may this be a reminder to all to use their seatbelts," Huger said. "My Mother may be my Guardian Angel but the seatbelt saved my life," she added.
The Real Housewives franchise has been a boon for the Bravo network over the years. However, its stars have not fared as well, as several have been caught up in serious legal troubles.
One of the most notorious involved The Real Housewives of New Jersey couple Teresa and Joe Giudice, US Weekly reported. In 2014, the pair pleaded guilty to 41 counts of fraud, including bankruptcy fraud.
Teresa Giudice spent 11 months in jail for her crimes, while her husband served 41 months, including additional charges related to tax evasion. Following his release from jail in March 2019, Joe Giudice was deported back to Italy, and the couple divorced.
Reality television chews up and spits out the people who participate in it. There is a string of broken marriages and destroyed careers and lives left in its wake, yet they continue to be produced.
Huger was just the latest star to let a poor life decision become national news because of her involvement in television. Fortunately, the legal penalties and public humiliation are the only consequences when the situation could have been so much worse.
