Kennedy Blames Accident on Sleep Medicine

AP ^ | 5/4/06 | ANDREW MIGA

[Jean S]

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) crashed his car near the Capitol early Thursday, and a police official said he appeared intoxicated. Kennedy said he had taken sleep medication and a prescription anti-nausea drug that can cause drowsiness.

Kennedy, D-R.I., addressed the issue after a spate of news reports. His initial statement said: "I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident."'

Later, however, he issued a longer statement saying the attending physician for Congress had prescribed Phenergan on Tuesday to treat Kennedy's gastroenteritis.

Kennedy said he returned to his Capitol Hill home on Wednesday evening after a final series of votes in Congress and took "prescribed" amounts of Phenergan and Ambien, another prescribed drug that he occasionally takes to fall asleep.

"Some time around 2:45 a.m., I drove the few blocks to the Capitol Complex believing I needed to vote," his second statement said. "Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication."

Kennedy appeared to be intoxicated when he crashed his Ford Mustand into a barrier on Capitol Hill early Thursday morning, said Louis P. Cannon, president of the Washington chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Cannon, who was not there, said the officers involved in the accident were instructed by an official "above the rank of patrolman" to take Kennedy home.

No sobriety tests were conducted at the scene.

A letter written by a Capitol Police officer to Acting Chief Christopher McGaffin said Kennedy appeared to be staggering when he left the vehicle after the crash about 3 a.m. The letter was first reported by Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper.

Kennedy said he was late for a vote, officer Greg Baird said in the letter to McGaffin. Baird is acting chairman of the Capitol Hill chapter of the FOP police union. The last vote of the night had occurred almost six hours earlier.

Kennedy said he was driven home by Capitol police.

"At no time did I ask for any special consideration," he said. "I simply complied with what the officers asked me to do."

Kennedy, the son of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., and his staff declined to discuss any further details of the accident. The congressman took part in House votes Thursday.

Capitol Police did not immediately return phone calls for comment. They issued a one-line statement saying they were investigating a traffic violation that occurred early in the morning at that location.

Baird wrote McGaffin that two sergeants who responded to the accident conferred with the watch commander and were ordered to leave the scene.

He said that after the officers left, Capitol Police officials gave Kennedy a ride home.

Kennedy spent time at a drug rehabilitation clinic before he went to Providence College. He has been open about mental health issues, including being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

___

Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this report.

[cabojoe]

I'm waiting for the press conference with Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover...

[freedumb2003]

DUI applies whether it is Jack Daniels or Sominex.

OTC defense is no defense.

The evil Kennedy clan once again watches Karma claim one of them.

I hope Honey Fitz is watching from Hell while his "dynasty" dies.

[bannie]

"Oh, what a horrible web we weave..."

[lilylangtree]

Sleepdriving under the influence? Right! (sarc)

[Howlin]

the Ambien defense...sleep-driving.

I guess the first statement was the "trial balloon," huh?

Does anybody know if there IS an "Ambien sleep-driving" defense?

[ozoneliar]

Kennedy gets a free pass. American citzens lose out. Is he telling the truth? We'll never know because of the 'CoC' Culture of Corruption.

'Shout Out' to any FReepers who work in law enforcement: If you ever stop somebody who appears to be intoxicated, don't give him a free pass.

[don-o]

"Some time around 2:45 a.m., I drove the few blocks to the Capitol Complex believing I needed to vote," his second statement said. "Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication."

Huh?

Woke up
Fell out of bed
Dragged a comb
Across my head.

[383rr]

ARGHHHH! These kennedys make my head hurt. Was he driving an Oldsmobile,too?

Like father, like son.

[dighton]

"Some time around 2:45 a.m., I drove the few blocks to the Capitol Complex believing I needed to vote," his second statement said. "Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication."

Take your pick: making a false statement to police, driving while grossly impaired, or both.

[bannie]

I had a mother-in-law who said, "We won't even drink: We'll only have beer."


:-o

[cripplecreek]

Sounds like a unique opportunity for Cynthia McKinney to point out the double standard and racism.

Let's watch shall we.

[Stand W]

It's amazing that there is absolutly no mention whatsoever about Uncle (hic!) Ted's little escapade with a bridge.

[groanup]

Chivas Regal = Sleep Medicine.

Kennedys only drink single malt scotches. But they do drink a lot of it and think it is their right whether they are driving a car or piloting an airplane.

[anymouse]

At least he stayed away from the water. :)

[eastforker]

Then he should be charged with driving under the influence if he was taking prescribed drugs that cause drowziness.

[Cicero]

He was sort of, like, sleepwalking. Only it was sleep driving.

I want the names of the officers who instructed the police on the scene not to test him for alcohol.

Do the Kennedys control the DC budget? Doesn't the Republican controlled House and Senate have anything to say about it? I think they should defund the DC police unless they start making a little sense. Highest murder rate, highest unsolved murder rate, and political corruption at the highest levels. And the whole thing funded by a Republican congress that gets no respect.

[buckeyesrule]

Hopefully the Kennedy's will find out that it's not 1969 anymore.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Ran his car aground.

[Farmer Dean]

That's his story and he's sticking to it(for now anyway)!

[P-40]

Phenergan

http://www.drugs.com/Phenergan/index.html

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Promethazine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Probably shouldn't drive on that stuff. In some states that would be just as illegal as drunk driving.