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.

[JustaCowgirl]

Is it possible to have an entire family designated a menace to society?

[albee]

How long before he starts wearing a neckbrace?

Uncle Teddy can show him how it works.

[Hilltop]

The barrier interrupted a good "buzz", I'm sure there is a bottom feeder lurking that could be pursuaded to sue the manufacturer of the barrier on the aforementioned basis.

If you can sue a ham sandwich, by damn, if you're a Kennedy you ought to be able to sue concrete workers and their employer.

[RushCrush]

The bar is set oh so low for the Kennedys. Their voters are pathetic.

[george76]

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Well I hate to defend a Kennedy -- but I know someone who took Ambien and it made them hallucinate. And I've taken Phenergan and that stuff makes you wierd, too, but the main side effect is .. unconciousness.

[FReepaholic]

... took "prescribed" amounts of Phenergan and Ambien, another prescribed drug that he occasionally takes to fall asleep. ...

Any doctors out there? Would a doctor prescribe these two drugs together?

WebMD says that Phenergan shouldn't be taken with any sleep inducing drug, which is what Ambien is.

It also says that Ambien is usually only prescribed for a short period (1 to 2 weeks). So how long has Kennedy been taking this (allegedly)?

[Hilltop]

Gadzooks, I'm spelling like a Kennedy under the influence, please insert peddle for petal.

Gad.

[blackbart.223]

"Probably shouldn't drive on that stuff. In some states that would be just as illegal as drunk driving."

Unless you are a Kennedy and and get a pass. If it was you are me we would be in jail wondering how to get out. All animals are equal. It's that some are more equal than others.

[Salvation]

Hmmmm. Sleep medicine, huh? Why was he even driving then?

[Cobra64]

LOL . I agree.

[Revolting cat!]

Give Kennedys a break, they've suffered enough!

[Tiberius109]

They could find out in an hour if he was out drinking . It's not rocket science . But , the Kennedy's probably had a damage control crew out 5 minutes after the call , destroying evidence and paying people off. He's a scumbag drunk just like the rest of the Kennedy's . I know it and you all know it too.
we need to jold these rock star politicians to the same standards we are held to . it's gotten out of control .These guys are ALL pros at this . No one represents US anymore. They are groomed actors from the word go . A class to themselves , distant from us or the regular guy. This is NOT what America is supposed to be about . Kennedy is just a symbol of what we have running our government .

[IronJack]

"Sleep medicine" = Quaaludes in a tincture of single-malt Scotch.

[King Prout]

ROFLOL

ow.

my cat just stabbed me - she does not like it when I belly-laugh.

[Tiberius109]

That's righ t. In NJ I know you have to sign a statement that you understand the side effects of the drug . He's sooooo full of it .

[Nanny7]

Can you imagine if this had been Rush?

[Prince Charles]

ROFL

[Trajan88]

Yawn... me thinks I'm tired of hearing this horse dung.

Anyway, it is going to be a fun couple days seeing/hearing/reading how this plays out.

[zeaal]

You take Phenergan, you don't need Ambien.

And this fellow is enacting laws ... I question his judgment. Shouldn't be in that position.