WASHINGTON – US commerce secretary John Bryson is under investigation for hit-and-run crashes with two cars near his California home over the weekend. His office said he had suffered a seizure.
Mr Bryson (68), who represents business interests in the Obama administration, was hospitalised in California but has returned to Washington, commerce department spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman said yesterday.
Earlier yesterday, police in southern California said Mr Bryson was found unconscious on Saturday behind the wheel of his Lexus after crashing into one car twice and then colliding with another. At least one crash is being investigated as a felony hit-and-run.
Mr Bryson was given medication to treat the seizure, said a commerce department official, who added that he was driving his own car on personal time and had no security detail at the time of the crashes. Police said so far there was “no indication that alcohol or drugs played a role in the collisions”. Police have formally cited Mr Bryson in the incident but the local district attorney’s office will decide whether to file formal criminal charges, according to CBS News, quoting Los Angeles police.
The White House had no immediate comment.
Mr Bryson, an energy expert and seasoned businessman, has served as secretary of commerce since October 2011. It is not clear how the incident could affect his job in President Barack Obama’s administration.
California’s San Gabriel police department said a preliminary investigation indicated that Mr Bryson caused the first crash when his Lexus rear-ended a Buick in San Gabriel on Saturday at about 5.05pm. He hit it again when leaving the scene. The second crash took place about five minutes later in nearby Rosemead, when Mr Bryson allegedly hit a Honda Accord.
Paramedics treated Mr Bryson at the scene and he was admitted to a local hospital, police said. Passengers in the other cars had no major injuries. – (Reuters)