Patrick Kennedy Crashes Car Into a Capitol Hill Barrier

By ROBERT PEARMAY 5, 2006
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WASHINGTON, May 4 — Representative Patrick J. Kennedy crashed his car into a traffic barrier on Capitol Hill in the early morning hours on Thursday. He said he was apparently disoriented because he had been taking Ambien, the sleeping pill, and another medication.

Mr. Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat, said he drove to the Capitol at about 2:45 a.m. in the mistaken belief that he needed to vote. The House was not in session, having adjourned at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday.

Mr. Kennedy, the 38-year-old son of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, issued a statement saying he had been involved in a traffic accident at First and C Streets S.E. near the Capitol.

"I consumed no alcohol prior to the incident," Mr. Kennedy said. "I will fully cooperate with the Capitol police in whatever investigation they choose to undertake."

Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, said a police union official had written a letter to the Capitol police chief asserting that Mr. Kennedy appeared to be staggering when he left his car. But, it said, police officers at the scene were not allowed by their supervisors to perform a sobriety test. Roll Call quoted the letter as saying Capitol police officials gave Mr. Kennedy a ride home.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/05/washington/05kennedy.html