Chappaquiddick Incident

Incidente de Chappaquiddick refers to a tragic automobile accident that occurred on July 18, 1969, on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts, United States. The event involved Senator Ted Kennedy, a prominent Democratic politician, who was driving a 1967 Oldsmobile Delmont 88 with his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, a 28-year-old former campaign worker. The car veered off a bridge and into the water, resulting in the death of Kopechne. Kennedy escaped with minor injuries but failed to report the accident to the authorities for several hours, sparking widespread criticism and controversy. The incident has been the subject of much speculation, investigation, and debate over the years. An inquest into the accident concluded that Kennedy's actions were negligent and that he could have saved Kopechne's life if he had acted more quickly. The incident had significant political and personal consequences for Kennedy, who was already reeling from the assassination of his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The incident has also been the subject of several books, films, and documentaries, and continues to be a topic of public interest and debate to this day.