Yale history professor Paul Kennedy was involved in a car accident in the early morning hours on Thursday in which a School of Music student was struck, suffering minor injuries.

Marisa Green MUS ’06 said she was exiting her car to return to her home on Bishop Street, in the East Rock neighborhood, when she was hit by a vehicle whose driver identified himself as Kennedy. Though police officials said they could not confirm the driver’s identity, Yale spokeswoman Helaine Klasky said Kennedy was involved in an accident.

“Professor Kennedy was involved in a minor car accident where a woman leaving her car was slightly injured,” Klasky said in an e-mail. “As routine, the police arrived at the scene and took Prof. Kennedy into the station for further questioning and tests … Professor Kennedy is deeply upset that any injury may have been caused by the accident.”

Klasky said Kennedy was released several hours later and that police detected no alcohol in his body.

“The police administered a Breathalyzer and found no trace,” she said in an interview Sunday night.

In an e-mail sent Sunday, Kennedy declined to comment on the incident.

Green was transported to the emergency room at Yale-New Haven Hospital following the accident, but suffered only minor cuts and bruises. She was released the same day.

“They took me to the emergency room and gave me some X-rays,” Green said. “I’ve got surface cuts and scrapes.”

Yale Police Department Lt. Michael Patten said that although he is aware of the accident, he could not comment further, pending investigation by the New Haven Police Department.

NHPD spokeswoman Bonnie Winchester also said she could not provide information about the case at this time.

Green said the accident left her shaken. While she said she could not recall all the details of the accident, she said the driver seemed confused and distressed.

“He appeared very upset, and I think he may have been in shock,” she said.

Kennedy is the J. Richardson Dilworth Professor of History and the director of the University’s International Security Studies program.

— Staff Reporter James Warrick-Alexander contributed to this report.