HIGHWAY HELL: Kerry Kennedy, Gov. Cuomo’s ex-wife, was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs after she crashed into a tractor-trailer in Westchester yesterday. (
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Kerry Kennedy, the ex-wife of Gov. Cuomo, was busted for driving under the influence of drugs yesterday after she smashed her luxury ride into a big rig on a Westchester highway — and then fled the scene, cops said.
Police found Kennedy, 52, in her 2008 Lexus RX 350 parked on the side of a road at about 8 a.m. in North Castle, shortly after several motorists called 911 reporting an erratic driver on I-684 during the morning rush hour, according to State Police.
The allegedly kicked-up Kennedy had been driving southbound on the highway when she slammed into a tractor-trailer just south of Exit 4, authorities said. The tractor-trailer did not stop, sources said. Cops don’t know his identity.
Kennedy continued driving down I-684, even though she had a flat tire, and got off at the nearest exit, law-enforcement sources said.
The disoriented Kennedy stopped near the bottom of the off-ramp. When a passing motorist approached her car, she reversed into a guardrail, the sources said.
Police found her slumped behind the wheel, the law-enforcement sources said.
An investigation showed that Kennedy, the mom of three teenage daughters by Cuomo, was impaired by drugs, officials said.
Kennedy told police she had taken prescription drugs, but she couldn’t remember which, the law-enforcement sources said.
WABC/Channel 7 reported sources saying that “it is believed Kennedy had taken an Ambien.”
Kennedy was taken to the State Police barracks in Somers. She gave blood samples and took a sobriety test.
She was issued traffic tickets, charged with misdemeanor driving while ability impaired and released on her own recognizance, according to police.
Kennedy spokesman Ken Sunshine denied she was under the influence of drugs or booze.
“Kerry Kennedy voluntarily took Breathalyzer, blood and urine tests — all of which showed no drugs or alcohol whatsoever in her system,” Sunshine said. “The charges were filed before the test results were available.”
A spokesman for Cuomo, who was married to Kennedy from 1991 to 2003, declined comment.
Kerry Kennedy, the seventh child of the late Sen. Robert Kennedy and younger sister of Bobby Jr., is considered one of the more responsible members of the often-wild tribe.
In May, her longtime friend and college roommate, Mary Kennedy — Bobby’s estranged wife — committed suicide.
Kerry was outspoken about her tragic pal’s longtime struggle with alcohol, drugs and depression.
When Mary was charged with drunken driving in 2010, Kerry accompanied her to her court hearing and wrote a letter of support to the judge.
Mary had drugs in her system when she died, toxicology reports showed.
Kerry is due in court July 17.
Additional reporting by Erik Kriss