Kerry Kennedy Positive in Ambien Test; Powerful Sleeping Drug Found in Blood
Kerry Kennedy had a powerful sleeping aid called "Ambien" in her system at the time she was found slumped over the steering wheel of her SUV, according to a Newsday report Wednesday.
Kennedy smashed her Lexus SUV into a truck and was found slumped over the wheel on Westchester County Road recently, and according to a source the results of an official blood test prove it may have had to do with an extremely strong sleeping medication being in her system.
The news contradicts claims made previously by Kennedy that the crash was down to a brain ailment, and it will certainly now be put forward that Gov. Cuomo's ex-wife should never have been attempting to get behind the wheel after taking such medication.
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Prosecutors have put forward blood test results as evidence against Kennedy, who is the 52-year-old daughter of Robert Kennedy. She had pleaded not guilty last week to driving while under the influence of drugs. Reports indicate that the blood tests found evidence of "zolpidem," which is the chemical name for the popular sleep aid.
Kennedy had previously claimed in North Castle town court, "The accident was not caused by a sleeping aid but by a complex partial seizure. My doctor says this is the first seizure I have ever had."
However, perhaps indicating what may have happened, Kennedy has previously told authorities when she was arrested that she may have mistakenly taken Ambien when she was attempting to take her thyroid medication instead. Her story later changed to claim that "hyper-density" in her brain may have caused the crash.
