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.

[eddie willers]

With a tendency to stare zombie-like and run into stationary objects, a new species of impaired motorist is hitting the roads: the Ambien driver.

Ambien, the nation's best-selling prescription sleeping pill, is showing up with regularity as a factor in traffic arrests, sometimes involving drivers who later say they were sleep-driving and have no memory of taking the wheel after taking the drug.

NY Times March 8, 2006

[mombonn]

Since when does ANY congress critter, let alone a KENNEDY, drive his own car?

[khnyny]

"The Ambien story is just a way to explain the idiocy of claiming he is headed to a vote at 3:00 AM. Better to say he is disoriented by his medicine that to say he pulls this technicality out of his hat whenever he gets popped for drunk driving."

Good post, that's right, forgot about that rule, can't be arrested. His story about the vote and the ambien implies premeditation. His elders have taught him well: always be prepared with the appropriate BS to CYA.

[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???

[Bush gal in LA]

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 ''SLEEPING WITH THE FISHES''!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

"with a bag of cash for Gephardt"

Huh. His pusher. Who wold have guessed..

[cripplecreek]

His "doctor".

[eddie willers]

No doubt so has Patrick's lawyer. Hence the new storyline.

Could very well be true since it got a lot of press recently.

See my excerpt from the NY Times 2 months ago.

[Hilltop]

You left out running moonshine during prohibition, womanizing, the Bay of Pigs, et al.

Oh, and fat Ted is worried about a wind farm affecting tourism while engaging in duplicitous politics regarding energy.

It's a funny thing, philanthropy is a great thing if you're spending someone elses money and not yours.

The Kennedys, the paradigm of virtue.

I must find my bottle of ipecac so I can hurl chunks.

[rfreedom4u]

Well, at least he didn't strike the police officer. And a good thing there was noone else in the car and also that he wasn't driving over a bridge. Who knows what could have happened then?

[TommyDale]

I thought it was because they are all alcoholics. They can't drive, they can't ski, and they certainly can't hold their liquor. I'm an Irishman, and they are an insult to our ancestors.

[Scothia]

Oh, yeah. I always take sleep medications then go for a drive. Doesn't everyone?

Don't be so hasty. I've taken Ambien for several years (under MD's care, of course) and know what can happen when a person is disoriented from it. Talk about sleepwalking! There are documented cases of people doing all kinds of complex things--cooking meals, showering, painting, writing, having sex, and yes driving--after the drug takes effect, without any memory whatsoever the next day. I know this is true because I've experienced some of it myself. I've never, ever attempted to drive my car (I'd be off it immediately if I had!) but there are times when I've prepared food and eaten it, did laundry or other housework, or had long conversations with my husband, and then had total amnesia of the incident/s afterwards. Do a Web search and you'll find all kinds of anecdotal data. Many people have experienced similar situations.

Ambien is one of the most widely prescribed medicines in America, and some people are taking it like candy without considering its possible serious side effects. Combined with another drug, it could very well have contributed to such an incident. (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!)

[Texas Songwriter]

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. He is representative of what it will be like when the left succeeds in legalizing a whole cadre of drugs which alter conscienceness. They will be operating 3000 pound projectiles hurtling down the highway at your family member at up to 70 mph.

This guy, Kennedy, is a great leader and rolemodel. Sheesh.

What a totally irresponsible person.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

There is the law for you uns ,and the law for we uns. And it aint the same.

[Chena]

Kennedy said he had taken sleep medication and a prescription anti-nausea drug that can cause drowsiness.

An "anti-nausea drug"? Oh, is THAT what they're calling it these days. Maybe someone's using a "smoke" screen? ;)

[rfreedom4u]

"drove the few blocks"

How many bars are within a few blocks of the capitol complex?

[cripplecreek]

The other problem is with police who attempted to make the issue go away.

[Angus MacGregor]

1. Don't be surprised if there are witnesses to Patches drinking Wednesday-Thursday morning.

2. Patches has had many run ins with the law including an addiction to Cocaine, an assault on a woman on a yacht, numerous car accidents and other assorted adventures.

3. They could have pictures of him drinking Jack Daniels straight from the bottle while doing lines of coke off the ass of an 18 year old male prostitute, it will make no difference. His State of Rhode Island will vote him back to Washington again and again.

[eddie willers]

(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!)

You and me both!

[Sir Gawain]

Um, that's STILL A DUI.