U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson, cited for felony hit-and-run following a series of car crashes Saturday evening in the span of five minutes in the San Gabriel and Rosemead areas, suffered a seizure, according to a Commerce Department spokesperson.
Bryson, 68, was treated at a hospital for injuries following the crashes at about 5 p.m. Saturday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department and the San Gabriel Police Department said in a joint statement.
"Secretary Bryson was involved in a traffic accident in Los Angeles over the weekend," Jennifer Friedman, director of public affairs for the Commerce Department, said in a statement. "He suffered a seizure. 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."
Bryson was cited for felony hit-and-run, San Gabriel Police spokesman Lt. Ariel Duran said. The secretary was driving alone in a Lexus on San Gabriel Boulevard 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.
He then pulled in front of the vehicle at the train crossing and parked, the vehicle's occupants told investigators. He spoke briefly with the occupants, who told investigators Bryson was traveling at about 15 to 20 mph, according to authorities.
"He then got back in, threw it in reverse and hit the car again," said Deputy Tony Moore.
The three motorists followed him and called 911, Moore said.
"We did cite him for felony hit-and-run," Duran said. "Later the case (will be) submitted to the DA's office which will make a determination on what they are going to charge him with."
Bryson then allegedly caused another collision minutes later, also on San Gabriel Boulevard, in the nearby city of Rosemead, striking a Honda Accord occupied by a man and a woman, the police agencies said. The crash location was near San Gabriel Boulevard and Hellman Avenue.
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Los Angeles County firefighters found Bryson alone and unconscious in his car and was treated at the scene before being taken to a hospital.
There was no immediate indication that alcohol or drugs played a role in the collisions, the agencies said. Authorities told NBC4 that Bryson submitted to a Breathalyzer test and blood test at the hospital.
"When the first officer rolled up on the scene, he was behind his wheel unconscious," Duran said. "But our officer did speak with him at the hospital."
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 was the commencement speaker Thursday at Polytechnic School in Pasadena (Photo, right, provided by Pasadena Star News). Four of his daughters graduated from the school.
Obama swore in the former utility executive as the head the Commerce Department in October, after easily overcoming conservatives' objections that his pro-environmental views made him unsuited for the job.
As secretary, Bryson has played a role as a member of the president's economic team and has worked to promote job creation. He has also advised on energy issues, particularly in the clean energy sector.
Bryson is the former head of Edison International, the holding company that owns Southern California Edison. Bryson has also served on boards of major corporations including the Boeing Co. and the Walt Disney Co.
He helped oversee Edison's transformation into a leading wind and solar company and launched a plan to turn 65 million square feet of unused commercial rooftops into solar power stations with enough electricity for more than 160,000 homes.
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