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.

[kalee]

Of course he's lying. It would be nice if they would investigate this and find a cocktail waitress or bartender that would admit to serving the guy liquor before he took off in his car.


But knowing the Kennedy's these people are probably already in Vegas spending the "windfall".

[nutmeg]

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."

Patches Kennedy has now had some time to concoct a story... it was sleep medication, not alcohol. Yeah, that's it... that's the ticket...

If you haven't seen it, check out the accident report from Patches' accident on 4/15/06 in Portsmouth, RI. Be sure to check out the Congressman's handwriting on page 6. Hmmm... drunk at 10 in the morning???

[NonValueAdded]

There were some news items recently about Ambien having some weird side effects when you first take it, confirmed by events I've witnessed. Now a savvy staff would know this. I wonder if Registrar McLaughlin is still around to retroactively write the Rx for Teddy's son?

[nicmarlo]

Well, he did learn from the swimmer.

[KoRn]

Phenergan an Ambien is one hell of a mix. Most of the time Phenergan is prescribed for extreme nausea and vomiting. It can have a sedating side effect. Ambien is a sleeping pill, and of course it has a sedating side effect as well.

If he mixed alcohol with both of these, and I'd be surprised if he could even drive, and he wasn't doing it too well. Too bad the police didn't get a breath test. Since they didn't this is nothing more than a bunch of talk unless something else comes out of it.

[nutmeg]

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."

Patches Kennedy has now had some time to concoct a story... it was sleep medication, not alcohol. Yeah, that's it... that's the ticket...

If you haven't seen it, check out the accident report from Patches' accident on 4/15/06 in Portsmouth, RI. Be sure to check out the Congressman's handwriting on page 6. Hmmm... drunk at 10 in the morning, Patches???

[norwaypinesavage]

Let me see if I understand: his sleep medication caused him to wake up at 2:30 AM and drive to the office?

[nutmeg]

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."

Patches Kennedy has now had some time to concoct a story... it was sleep medication, not alcohol. Yeah, that's it... that's the ticket...

If you haven't seen it, check out the accident report from Patches' accident on 4/15/06 in Portsmouth, RI. Be sure to check out the Congressman's handwriting on page 6. Hmmm... drunk at 10 in the morning, Patches???

[BallyBill]

Cruising around needlessly in his fossil fuel burning V8. Doesn't he have Global Warming Summit or something better to do?

[DakotaRed]

It's not 1969 any longer, but they are still Kennedy's.

[LibSnubber]

"Okay, now I can't believe I'm in the almost intolerable position of offering a possible defense for a Kennedy, but there it is!"

Sorry, no offense, but all you've proven to me is that the POS chose a good lie. If it walks like a drunk, err I mean duck...

[LucyJo]

Ambien -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zolpidem

[Darkwolf377]

Kennedy appeared to be intoxicated when he crashed his Ford Mustand into a barrier on Capitol Hill early Thursday morning

Maybe the sleep medication made him think it was a windmill.

[fortunecookie]

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.

Bwahahahaha. Oh come on. I've seen the Ambien commercials. Does he actually expect us to believe that he, a college educated state representative, failed to heed the well publicized warnings about taking Ambien right before going to bed, and instead took it right before he got into his car?? A medicine he claims to use regularly to help him sleep? I guess his leftie sheeple will suck it up...

Oh, and I like how he tells us this several news stories later, and at the scene, the police apparently did not administer any breathalizer or other intoxication test. Hmm.

[mort56]

Just curious. I'm a little lost. Is this the third or fourth excuse?

[Scothia]

The 'word' "Ambien" is meant to sound relaxing. It is a benzodiazopene in the class of drugs with Valium, Versed, Restoril, and others. There is always a clear warning given to the person taking this drug not to drive or operate heavy machinery.

Let me add that I do not believe anyone who drives while under the influence of any drug, legal or otherwise, should be held blameless. Once the person taking a medication is aware of its possible side effects, and that is as soon as it is prescribed, not taking whatever steps necessary to avoid such incidents makes him liable. Some people lock up their car keys. When I take Ambien, I make sure my husband is aware and looks out for anything untoward I might do if I get up during the night. It is the patient's responsibility to know what he is imbibing.

[acapesket]

Syrup of Ipecac has been outlawed by the APA (American Pediatricians Assoc.) to induce vomiting on case of poison.
Now, Patches has done re-hab as a cocaine druggie and knows that in order for his recovery to take root, one is always honest with one's doctors. Therefore one's Doctor would never prescribe Phenergan to a recovering anybody (Name your poison) NOR would they ever prescribe Ambien which I believe is listed as a a Narcotic!
His Mother is an alcoholic, his Father is an alcoholic.
If I were the freakin' School Nurse, I would refuse to give him Tylenol.
THIS IS SUCH A CLASSIC ALKY excuse.
Like a firend of mine said today.. excuses are like A**holes, we all HAVE one!

[Sloth]

A Ford Mustard? Kennedy must have looked pretty silly driving that.

[highlander_UW]

now aren't we just the uppity peasant here now !!!!!Jail, DUI..thats for TAXPAYERS not taxwriters!!

Yup, that's me all right...the uppity peasant in pajamas.

[Darkwolf377]

"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."

I've heard some lame excuses for drunk driving, but this takes the cake. I guess they're now prescribing hallucinogens for the sleep deprived.

Kennedy--The First Name in Personal Responsibility