Monday, June 11, 2012

US Commerce secretary in car crashes 'suffered a seizure'

U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson is under investigation by Los Angeles County police for reportedly hitting a stopped car twice in San Gabriel, Calf., and then causing a second collision in nearby Rosemead. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.

By msnbc.com staff and news services

Updated at 9:47 a.m. ET: Police are investigating two traffic collisions allegedly caused by U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson that left him injured and unconscious, authorities in the Los Angeles area said Monday.

One of the crashes was under investigation as a felony hit and run, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department and the San Gabriel Police Department said.


Jennifer Friedman, director of public affairs for the Department of Commerce, confirmed that Bryson was involved in a traffic accident over the weekend and said he had "suffered a seizure."

Bryson was taken to the hospital for examination and remained overnight for observation, Friedman said. He was released and has returned to Washington. 

Bryson was on personal time with no security detail and was driving his own vehicle. He was given medication to treat the seizure.

The L.A. Times reported that Bryson had been cited for felony hit and run but was not taken to jail because he had been hospitalized.

While investigations were at a preliminary stage, there was no immediate indication that alcohol or drugs played a role in the collisions, according to local law enforcement agencies.

In the first incident, Bryson was driving alone in a Lexus in San Gabriel when he allegedly struck the rear end of a vehicle occupied by three males that had been stopped for a passing train.

Bryson spoke with the occupants and then hit their car again as he departed, officials said. The trio followed him while calling police.

"The preliminary investigation indicates the collision was caused by suspect John Bryson, who is the United States Secretary of Commerce," the police statement said.

Bryson then allegedly caused a second collision minutes later in the nearby city of Rosemead, striking a car occupied by a man and a woman, the police agencies said.

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Two people in the first collision were treated by paramedics after complaining of pain, the officials said. The couple involved in the second crash also complained of pain but declined medical aid. 

Damage to the vehicles was minor. 

Bryson, the former chairman and CEO of public utility company Edison International, was appointed 37th Secretary of Commerce in 2011, according to his official biography

NBC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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