“Real Housewives of Orange County” star Shannon Beador was injured in her recent drunk hit-and-run, according to her good pal Jeff Lewis.
“She got a DUI on Saturday night, she was also in a car accident. She was injured,” the former Bravolebrity said Monday on his SiriusXM radio show, “Jeff Lewis Live.”
“So she’s gonna be recovering,” he continued. “Shannon and I have been friends for a very long time. She called me yesterday; we talked for a while and I was shocked because I’ve never known Shannon to ever, ever, ever drink and drive.”
Lewis, 53, claimed that he and Beador, 59, have previously discussed the dangers of driving under the influence in private.
“I won’t have one drink and drive. I just Uber everywhere now, so I’m shocked,” he said, adding that Beador is “accepting full accountability” for her actions, which she is “ashamed” of and “embarrassed” by.
Lewis explained why he doesn’t think Beador is an “alcoholic” despite speculation among “RHOC” fans.
“People were like, ‘Oh she needs rehab, oh she’s an alcoholic,’” he acknowledged.
“I don’t think Shannon is an alcoholic. As her close friend, I think she’s going through a lot of personal struggles right now and I think that she probably has been leaning on alcohol,” Lewis elaborated. “But I don’t believe she’s an alcoholic.”
The “Flipping Out” alum did mention, however, that Beador will be “entering counseling” this week to seemingly address her relationship with drinking.
“I’m happy about that,” he said. “Nobody aside from Shannon, nobody was hurt in the accident. I’m not justifying it, I’m not condoning it, I just am telling you what I know.”
The arrest report, obtained by Pvnew, confirmed that Beador was cuffed and slapped with a DUI late Saturday after she allegedly clipped a Newport Beach, Calif., house and fled.
She was also charged with a misdemeanor hit-and-run.
Sources told the TMZ that the “Real for Real” founder continued driving before parking her car in the middle of the street and exiting with her dog, Archie.
Police were called and found Beador acting like she was walking her canine companion. Authorities, however, came to the conclusion that she was drunk and took her into custody.
“I spent quite a bit of time with Shannon yesterday,” her lawyer, Mike Fell, told Pvnew Monday. “She is extremely apologetic and remorseful. We will be awaiting the official information on this case as it becomes available, and Shannon is prepared to accept full responsibility for her actions.”
Reps for Bravo didn’t immediately respond to Pvnew’s request for comment.
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
