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Kennedy Blames Accident on Sleep Medicine
AP ^
| 5/4/06
| ANDREW MIGA
Posted on 05/04/2006 7:06:03 PM PDT by 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.
TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; US: District of Columbia; US: Rhode Island
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1
posted on
05/04/2006 7:06:04 PM PDT
by
Jean S
To: JeanS
Thanks for posting this, Jean. Saw the alert on Fox News, but didn't catch this article. I'll ping my lists...
2
posted on
05/04/2006 7:06:56 PM PDT
by
nutmeg
("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." - Hillary Clinton 6/28/04)
To: JeanS
So he WAS under the influence.
3
posted on
05/04/2006 7:07:11 PM PDT
by
Ron in Acreage
(Liberal Democrats-Party before country, surrender before victory, generous with other peoples money.)
To: JeanS
Chivas Regal = Sleep Medicine.
4
posted on
05/04/2006 7:07:12 PM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(Cheney X -- Destroying the Liberal Democrat Traitors By Any Means Necessary -- Ya Dig ? Sho 'Nuff.)
To: JeanS
life is good when you are above the law
5
posted on
05/04/2006 7:07:22 PM PDT
by
Cyclops08
To: JeanS
Kennedy said he had taken sleep medication and a prescription anti-nausea drug that can cause drowsiness. Isn't that 'Driving Under the Influence'?
6
posted on
05/04/2006 7:07:50 PM PDT
by
CrawDaddyCA
(I ain't learning no friggin' Spanish!! This is America, you learn English!!)
To: JeanS
It brings a certain song to mind...........
somthing about a Family Tradition??!!
To: JeanS
Why didn't he say this in his FIRST STATEMENT?
And does anybody know -- is Burke Marshall still alive?
8
posted on
05/04/2006 7:08:04 PM PDT
by
Howlin
To: fieldmarshaldj
Maybe! But, I don't believe it.
9
posted on
05/04/2006 7:08:07 PM PDT
by
bilhosty
To: JeanS
As I said on another thread, Sheesh, blaming it on medication.
I've got a bridge over Chappaquiddick I'd like to sell him.
10
posted on
05/04/2006 7:08:28 PM PDT
by
mombonn
(God is looking for spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.)
To: fieldmarshaldj; windcliff
Maybe the car runs on alternative fuel? aka 80 proof.
To: JeanS
12
posted on
05/04/2006 7:09:23 PM PDT
by
woofer2425
(Kerry LIED)
To: JeanS
I'll believe it if he was in his P.Js.
13
posted on
05/04/2006 7:09:26 PM PDT
by
Shermy
To: JeanS
Uh-Huh...the Ambien defense...sleep-driving.
What a crock!
14
posted on
05/04/2006 7:09:38 PM PDT
by
Palladin
("Governor Lynn Swann."...it has a nice ring to it!)
To: CrawDaddyCA
** Isn't that 'Driving Under the Influence'? **
You must not have read the name of the perp
;-)
15
posted on
05/04/2006 7:09:46 PM PDT
by
Sometimes A River
(Bush stifles speech to appease Chinese butchers)
To: mombonn
*Snort*
They're showing some "incident" where he shoved a security woman at Boston airport.
But I remember when he got in trouble at another airport -- again trying to get through security -- with a bag of cash for Gephardt.
Does anybody remember that?
16
posted on
05/04/2006 7:10:00 PM PDT
by
Howlin
To: fieldmarshaldj
I used to work with an old drunk. He called his 12 pack his "med'cine".
17
posted on
05/04/2006 7:10:13 PM PDT
by
cripplecreek
(Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
To: CrawDaddyCA
No sobriety tests were conducted at the scene. He was staggering and the cops didn't test him?
18
posted on
05/04/2006 7:10:16 PM PDT
by
Mr. Mojo
To: JeanS
A very special sleep medication dispensed as a twelve-year old, golden brown elixir.
19
posted on
05/04/2006 7:10:23 PM PDT
by
Petronski
(I love Cyborg!)
To: JeanS
what... no bridge? no river? no dead party-girl?
THIS Kennedy is a piker!
20
posted on
05/04/2006 7:10:55 PM PDT
by
King Prout
(many complain I am overly literal... this would not be a problem if fewer people were under-precise)
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