Commerce Secretary Bryson under investigation over two hit & run accidents

Very bizarre story – via The Hill:

Commerce Secretary John Bryson is being investigated by law enforcement officials for allegedly causing two traffic accidents over the weekend.

A police spokesman from the San Gabriel Police Department said Bryson was cited for a felony hit-and-run after the two incidents on Saturday in California,Β CNN reported.

Bryson received non-threatening injuries from the accidents and was treated at a local area hospital.

A police report cited by CNN said Bryson had been driving a Lexus and rear-ended another vehicle which was stopped at a railroad crossing on Saturday night.

The Obama Commerce secretary allegedly spoke to the occupants in the other vehicle, before leaving the scene, in the process striking the other car again.

He then allegedly struck a second vehicle driven by a couple in the neighboring city of Rosemead, CNN said.

Police arriving on the scene found him unconscious in his car and he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

More information via the LA Times:

Bryson was treated at the scene by Los Angeles County firefighters. Authorities said drugs or alcohol do not appear to have played a role in the crash. They said Bryson was cooperative. He was cited for felony hit and run but was not booked into jail because he had been admitted to the hospital. His condition was not known.

Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt.

I wonder if he had a blackout, or fell asleep or the wheel, or some type of medical condition that rendered him briefly unconscious? Hopefully we’ll learn more today during the WH press briefing.

Stay tuned.

Update: Per a Dept of Commerce spox, Bryson suffered a seizure:

The top-ranking Obama administration official involved in two car accidents over the weekend in Los Angeles had suffered a seizure, a spokeswoman in his department said Monday.

The explanation from the Commerce Department came after Commerce Secretary John Bryson was already cited for felony hit-and-run in one of the crashes.

Spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman confirmed that Bryson was involved, but pointed to medical reasons for the accidents.

“He suffered a seizure,” she said. “He was taken to the hospital for examination and remained overnight for observation. He was released and has returned to Washington. The investigation is ongoing.”

A Commerce official said Bryson was also given medication to treat the seizure.

How awful. But it’s a good sign he’s out of the hospital, at least. Hopefully he’s ok.

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