In a troubling turn of events, Nick Hogan, the son of WWE legend Hulk Hogan, found himself back in legal trouble as he was arrested for driving under the influence early Saturday morning in Florida. This arrest comes 16 years after Nick Hogan was involved in a horrifying car wreck in the same state.
The arrest occurred shortly before 4 a.m., and according to jail records, Nick Hogan refused to take a sobriety test. He was released late Saturday after posting a $500 bond. The exact details of the incident leading to his arrest remain unclear.
Before the DUI incident, Nick Hogan was reportedly seen on his Instagram page attending a bikini contest at his father’s restaurant in the Clearwater area the night before, as reported by TMZ.
The son of Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Nicholas Bollea, gained notoriety in 2007 when he was involved in a severe car crash in Clearwater, Florida. The accident left Nick Hogan’s friend, John Graziano, with a severe brain injury. Graziano, an active-duty Marine at the time, was a passenger in Nick Hogan’s car during a drag race that went awry, resulting in the vehicle striking a tree.
Nick Hogan, who was 17 years old at the time, faced legal consequences for the crash. He spent eight months in Pinellas County Jail after pleading no contest to a charge of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. Authorities alleged that alcohol was involved, even accusing Hulk Hogan of supplying alcohol to his underage son. Nick Hogan was also sentenced to five years of probation, 500 community service hours, and a three-year license suspension.
Due to good behavior, Nick Hogan was released from prison after serving approximately six months. The Graziano family sued the Hogans over the accident, resulting in ongoing care for John Graziano, who faced a lifetime of 24/7 care.
Hulk Hogan, in response to the crash, shared that it served as a wake-up call for his son, prompting a positive change in Nick’s perspective on life. In a 2007 interview with People, Hulk Hogan stated, “It’s the best thing that ever happened to him. I’m not saying it’s a good thing. But it happened for a reason.”
In 2010, Nick Hogan appeared on Good Morning America to discuss the emotional toll of the devastating accident, acknowledging the difficulty in moving on from such a traumatic event.
Nick Hogan’s recent DUI arrest raises concerns about his ongoing struggles and the challenges he faces despite the lessons learned from the 2007 crash. The incident serves as a reminder of the long-lasting impact of past mistakes and the importance of accountability.