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.

[Palladin]

Does anybody know if there IS an "Ambien sleep-driving" defense? If there isn't one now, there will be tomorrow! Thank God he didn't kill anyone.

[LucyT]

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

[Zeppo]

No doubt this is the version that got the best score in the polling tests...

[don'tspeak4me]

LOL! I think I've finally heard it all. Ambien my ass.

[Liberty Valance]

Wanna get sleepy?
:o)

[bannie]

They mentioned it on FOX, but it didn't go very far. I think people FEAR mentioning that. You'd think the subject was billyblythe & hillary the way people duck the subject.

[Hildy]

ROFLMAO!!!! ANYONE who has ever had a drinking problem has used that one! THE OLDDDDD Sleep medication routine!

[mombonn]

If he was so "disoriented", how can he be sure he didn't drink?

[cripplecreek]

When you're driving down the highway at night
And you're feelin' that wild turkey's bite
Don't give Johnny Walker a ride
Cause Jack Black is right by your side
You might get taken to the jailhouse and find
You've been arrested for driving while blind

Now just the other night with nothin' to do
We broke a case of proof 102
And started itchin' for that wonderful feel
Of rollin' in an automobile
You could say we was out of our mind
And let me tell you we were flyin' while blind

Then they had us up against the wall
Hey it's only blood grain alcohol
And there ain't no cause for alarm
We ain't out to do nobody no harm
How could anyone be so unkind
To arrest a man for drivin' while blind

[abigailsmybaby]

He took sleeping pills while out running around in the wee hours of the morning? What a brainiac.

[bannie]

Has anyone said whether or not he's called a cousin to take a dive for him? (reference to Senatorial Privledge)

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

The cops on the scene were prevented from testing him by "higher-ups" that spirited him away from the scene.

[maggief]

Another recent report:

[countreegurl]

who in hades would drive under ambien? oh - we're talking about a kennedy.

[Hildy]

Even if this was true, which we know it's not...but if it was...if you're taking a prescription medication that makes you drowsy you'll get a DUI...It's not DWI anymore it's DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE...and that's a big umbrella.

[USNBandit]

Ah yes, the slowly evolving story. First, no special treatment, no alcohol, rushing to make a vote. Next, special treatment, but not intoxicated. Now, thought he needed to vote(nobody was buying that story) and under the influence of prescription medication.

Maybe he should read the bottle....of pills that says not to mix with the bottle of booze.

[Zeppo]

It makes sense to me... After all, he took the sleep medication, and only then did he realize that he was late for a vote, so he hopped in his car and drove in the general direction of the Capitol, in search of police officers who could escort him through the 3 AM traffic to get to the vote more quickly. And, and, and, get this, he found them, exactly like he planned. And his lights were off because... because... because he was saving energy due to the Bush oil crisis, yeah, that's why his lights were off...

[don-o]

I will chime in with this. My FIL had Ambien for a time. Made him nuttty. Discontinued it.

He don't drive, though; being blind and 92 yrs old next week.