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.

[cripplecreek]

That old ZZ Top was some good drinking music back in the day.

[maggief]

Kennedy's statement re:


Saturday, April 15, 2006:
Kennedy tries to turn into a CVS parking lot in Portsmouth, R.I.,, but turns into the vehicle in front of him instead.

[Getready]

Actually, Ambien (zolpidem) is NOT a benzodiazepine, but
it does share in many of the pharmacological effects of
the benzodiazepines, so you could lump it in the same
categorically, "effect" wise.
The whole story could be true, but the perp. has a recent
a history of bizarre behaviour, it would appear that
he has some type of problem, and therefore the storyline
given doesn't really ring true. He is not suitable for
public service, it would appear, until he has these
behaviours under control.

[stockstrader]

Why has the supervisor that ordered the police officer to 'just drive him home' without a sobriety test--NOT been fired yet?

[Shaka]

"If I get stoned and sing all night long...itsa family tradition!"

Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!

"Pat...why do you drink? Why do you blow smoke? Why must you live out, all those songs you have wrote?"

[Texas dog]

"Why has the supervisor that ordered the police officer to 'just drive him home' without a sobriety test--NOT been fired yet?"

Yeah, this is what I'm waiting to hear about.

Who exactly made that decision, and why? I'd love to know who the person was, and see what phone calls were made as that decision was reached...

[boop]

I'm a physician. Ambien is a controlled substance. Why he would take this when not at home is mystery enough, besides the police cover-up.

[CharlesWayneCT]

If you believe his story, he didn't INTEND to take the drugs and then go to a vote. He took the drugs intending to go to bed and sleep.

The DRUGS put him in an altered state, and in that altered state he drove to vote.

I'm not making excuses for him, just noting that under his STORY, his driving was because of taking the drugs.

[freedumb2003]

I posted before I knew what drug he was claiming to be using.

Using an Rx drug and then driving is even WORSE.

[Getready]

Whoops, I apologize big time. I misread the report, the
Phenergan was supposedly prescribed for "gastroenteritis"
not Allergy. MY big mistake...
Nevertheless, it is not used much for adults for that
indication, though it can be.
Sorry about any incorrect comment. Nevertheless, people
are warned not to not use or to cautiously use medications
which can alter mental function at the same time....which
both Ambien and Phenergan can do.
If he got the phenergan from the pharmacy it would be
interesting to find out if his physician routinely uses
that medication on other patients.

[Jim Noble]

I'm a physician. Ambien is a controlled substance. Why he would take this when not at home is mystery enough

And since so many young men in the District are in prison for drug offenses, I'm sure there is a diligent investigation looking at whether or not he has a current, valid prescription - aren't you?

[stockstrader]

I suspect that higher ups told the onscene police officer who stated "He appears intoxicated".....

"You will lose your job if you don't drive him home immediately. And NO SOBRIETY TEST or you're out of here. Just do it, no more questions"!

Just a guess on my part.

[Jim Noble]

Very few people use Phenergan for allergies anymore. They have essentially been replaced by the the relatively non sedating medications Allegra and Claritin.

How about for coming down?

[toldyou]

Oh dear!

[b4its2late]

Yikes. Where is that BS meter when you need one....

[toldyou]

Ted is his father.

[b4its2late]

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

Let's watch shall we.

I'm sure she's just busting at the seams to blurt it out....

[toldyou]

hours of operation
Sun - Thurs 10am to 2am
Fri - Sat 10am to 3am

[Capn TrVth]

Anyone have a pic of the damage to Patches' green Mustang?
I saw it on video, can't find the still.

[b4its2late]

Rush just said that reporters have a bar tab of Kennedy's from Wednesday night.