Changes

[[File:Kopechne.jpg|thumb|500px|right|]]

[[File:Kopechne.jpg|thumb|500px|right|]]

According to Kennedy, he made a wrong turn onto an unlit dirt road that led to Dike Bridge, a wooden bridge angled obliquely to the road with no guardrail, and drove over its side.  The car plunged into tide-swept Poucha Pond (at that location a channel) and came to rest upside down underwater.  Kennedy later recalled that he was able to swim free of the vehicle, but Kopechne was not.  Kennedy claimed at the inquest that he called Kopechne's name several times from the shore, then tried to swim down to reach her seven or eight times, then rested on the bank for several minutes before returning on foot to Lawrence Cottage, where the party attended by Kopechne and other "Boiler Room Girls" had occurred.   

According to Kennedy, he made a wrong turn onto an unlit dirt road that led to Dike Bridge, a wooden bridge angled obliquely to the road with no guardrail, and drove over its side.  The car plunged into tide-swept Poucha Pond (at that location a channel) and came to rest upside down underwater.  Kennedy later recalled that he was able to swim free of the vehicle, but Kopechne was not.  Kennedy claimed at the inquest that he called Kopechne's name several times from the shore, then tried to swim down to reach her seven or eight times, then rested on the bank for several minutes before returning on foot to Lawrence Cottage, where the party attended by Kopechne and other "[[Boiler room|Boiler Room]] Girls" had occurred.   

According to one commentator, his route back to the cottage would have taken him past four houses from which he could have telephoned and summoned help; however, he did not do so.

According to one commentator, his route back to the cottage would have taken him past four houses from which he could have telephoned and summoned help; however, he did not do so.