Kerry Kennedy Charged with Drug-Impaired Driving; Spokesman Denies Charges

NORTH CASTLE, NY -- Kerry Kennedy, ex-wife of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, is denying charges of ability-impaired driving on the heels of her arrest in northern Westchester Friday morning.

State police at the Somers barracks investigated the hit and run property damage auto accident that occurred on Interstate 684 in the town of North Castle at about 8 a.m. Friday morning, according to police reports obtained by Patch.

Police said they received 911 calls describing a white vehicle driving in "an erratic manner in the southbound lanes south of exit 4" that then collided with a truck.

The collision damaged the vehicle and left it with a flat tire, the police report reads; the driver then reportedly took exit 3, and the vehicle was rendered disabled on Rt. 22 shortly afterward.

"North Castle Police located the vehicle and found Kerry Kennedy, 52, of Bedford, NY, seated behind the wheel of a 2008 Lexus RS 350," the report continues. "State Police arrived and a subsequent investigation found Kennedy to be operating the motor vehicle while her ability was impaired by drugs." 

But a spokesman for Kennedy is denying the charges.

"Kerry Kennedy voluntarily took breathalyzer, blood and urine tests—all of which showed no drugs or alcohol whatsoever in her system," said spokesman Ken Sunshine. "The charges were filed before the test results were available."

Kennedy is due in North Castle Court on Tuesday, July 17.

Douglas Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy's brother—who involving moving his newborn son, Bo, around —reacted to hearing the news.

Douglas Kennedy said he has "never in [his] life seen her impaired." He also described his sister "as responsible a person as I have ever met."

Kerry Kennedy has three daughters with Gov. Cuomo; the two divorced in 2005 after marrying in 1990.