A new book says Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was involved in another auto accident just prior to the 1969 incident on a bridge at Chappaquiddick, but a Kennedy spokesman Thursday labeled the charge "preposterous."
In a book released Thursday to Washington media, author Kenneth Kappel said previously overlooked evidence indicates that Kennedy may have pushed his black Oldsmobile off the Dyke Bridge on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts to cover up an earlier accident and to conceal his own drunken state.Kennedy spokesman Paul Donovan said, "The story is preposterous and absurd. We're not going to comment any further."
Kappel said dents in the roof and side of the car shown in photographs could not have been caused by the vehicle's impact with the water.
The accident that claimed Mary Jo Kopechne's life occurred the night of July 18, 1969. Kennedy has maintained he made a wrong turn in Chappaquiddick and drove off the narrow, wooden bridge over a salt water pond.
Kennedy said he made several attempts to try to rescue Kopechne and then enlisted the help of two aides. He said at the time that the 10-hour delay in reporting the accident resulted from his confused and distraught state.
The title of the book is "Chappaquiddick Revealed: What Really Happened."