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.

[don-o]

Good get eddie. Keeping FR fair and balanced.

[HarleyLady27]

Just like old teddy baby....lie; lie; lie.....all the Kennedys know what to do, drink, lie, act like an idiot, lie, sink cars in water, lie, lie, lie....sure he was on a sleep medication....

I own the Brooklyn Bridge to, anyone want to buy it?????

[gov_bean_ counter]

Usually, "Your parents must be proud" is a sarcastic comment.

But my daddy’s voice just speaks to me
Sayin, “Patches, I’m depending on you son
To pull the family through
My son, it’s all left up to you
I could still hear papa when he’d say
Patches, I’m depending on you son
I tried to do my best
It’s up to you to do the rest”.

[Tiberius109]

Still dosen't explain WHY he wasen't questioned and tested at the scene. So what if it was pills ? Anyone else they check you out at the scene 1st.The excuse means nothing . The fact that they let him slide tells me there WAS a problem and they covered it up because of WHO he was. NOW ..the BIG question ..Who has the b*lls to go after him on this one ? NO one , that's who . Not even anyone from our side will push for an investigation. All these politicians stick up for eachother in these matters. We are no longer represented by any of them in my opinion.

[Zeppo]

sometimes involving drivers who later say they were sleep-driving and have no memory of taking the wheel after taking the drug

Uh, how many hours later? And is it before or after they have talked to a lawyer?

[don'tspeak4me]

We may want to hold our fire for right now.

Anyone else, yeah maybe, but a Kennedy...bwaahaahaahaa!

[Cecily]

Yes, they are a bunch of alcoholic, drugged-out, thuggish louts who seem to stagger through life in a permanently impaired state. Wise people (this excludes the dopes who vote for them, naturally) who don't want to be killed or injured give them the widest berth possible.

[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.

[eddie willers]

Good get eddie. Keeping FR fair and balanced.

Oh I certainly have my doubts...but I'm holding fire until I see the reds of his eyes. :o)

[gov_bean_ counter]

I'm surprised any of these Kennedys ever became lawyers, 'cause...

None of them can pass a bar.

[don-o]

You and me both!

Me three. But, for this to have cred, he needs to check into rehab for, what, twenty years?

[LucyT]

Why would anyone put stuff like that in their body?

Sorry, I'm not buying it; you may have a medical problem, but he is a young man who is supposed to be representing his electorate. If he is in that bad of shape, he needs to resign.

[Jean S]

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

Courtesy of Doctor Raoul:

Addresses and Distances of Closests Bars To Kennedy's Accident

[Tiberius109]

His State of Rhode Island will vote him back to Washington again and again.
Yep, wouldn't be the first time that happened in politics .

[Libertarian444]

Kennedy Blames Accident on Sleep Medicine

And the spin begins......

By this weekend, the MSM will be blaming it on Karl Rove..

[mo]

"So what does he blame the special treatment he got upon? Anyone else would have been subjected to a breathalizer and a night in jail.".....now aren't we just the uppity peasant here now !!!!!Jail, DUI..thats for TAXPAYERS not taxwriters!!

[conservative in nyc]

I don't think a first DUI without fatalities is a felony under the relevant D.C. law. It DOES apply to driving under the influence of drugs, though:

No individual shall, when . . . under the influence of . . . any drug . . . operate or be in physical control of any vehicle in the District. . . . Any individual violating any provision of this paragraph, upon conviction for the first offense, unless the individual has previously been convicted for a violation of paragraph (2) of this subsection, shall be fined $300 and may be imprisoned for not more than 90 days. In addition, if the individual's blood contains at least .20%, but not more than .25%, by weight, of alcohol, the individual shall be imprisoned for an additional mandatory minimum period of 5 days, or if the level is more than .25%, by weight, of alcohol, for an additional mandatory minimum period of 10 days. The additional mandatory minimum period shall not be suspended by the court.

[D.P.Roberts]

Hey, at least he didn't punch the officers.

[norwaypinesavage]

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

[eddie willers]

Me three. But, for this to have cred, he needs to check into rehab for, what, twenty years?

That should do it.

And we can all feel 'liberal good' for helping him through his recovery! :o)