Chappaquiddick Incident

Chappaquiddick Incident - On July 18-19, 1969 an unforgettable incident happened that day when Mary Jo kopechne, assistant of Edward - Ted Kennedy died on a car accident and Senator kennedy was driving that car. woman on Kennedy's staff drowned at Chappaquiddick Island, off the Massachusetts coast, after a car that Kennedy had been driving, and in which she had been riding, went off a bridge. Kennedy survived, but delayed informing the police, and has never provided a full explanation of the incident. Kennedy said that he dove repeatedly to the car to try to rescue Kopechne. Many questioned Kennedy's behavior, however, because he had been drinking that night, had failed to report the accident until the police contacted him the next morning, and had given unsatisfying explanations of what happened. On 25 July, he pled guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended sentence of two months. To date, Senator Kennedy insists that he was not driving under the influence, and that a wrong turn, and a poorly lighted bridge resulted in the crash. Nevertheless, he takes full responsibility for leaving the scene, failing to report to the police, and possibly by his inaction causing Ms. Kopechne’s death. He reports that he was shocked, panicked, confused and exhausted and his actions were totally inappropriate. He did not attempt to justify his actions and pled guilty to charges against him.