* California police say Bryson involved in 3 collisions
* Bryson, 68, suffered a seizure, Commerce Dept. says
* Obama's cabinet secretary under felony investigation
(Adds Commerce statement, details, background)
By Susan Heavey
WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Secretary John
Bryson is under investigation for hit-and-run crashes with two
cars near his California home over the weekend and his office
said he had suffered a seizure.
Bryson, who represents business interests in the Obama
administration, was hospitalized in California but has returned
to Washington, Commerce Department spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman
said in a statement on Monday. The investigation into the
crashes is ongoing, she added.
Earlier on Monday, police in Southern California said 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.
The 68-year-old was given medication to treat the seizure,
according to a Commerce Department official, who added that
Bryson was driving his own car on personal time and had no
security detail at the time of the crashes.
Police said so far "there is no indication that alcohol or
drugs played a role in the collisions." They added that Bryson
and others were cooperative with the investigation.
Los Angeles police have formally cited 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.
JOINED CABINET IN LATE 2011
Bryson, an energy expert and seasoned businessman, has
served as Obama's secretary of Commerce since October 2011.
It is not clear how the accident or the investigation could
affect his job in the administration.
In a statement released early Monday, California's San
Gabriel Police Department said a preliminary investigation
indicates Bryson caused the first crash when his Lexus
rear-ended a Buick in San Gabriel on Saturday at about 5:05 p.m.
He hit it again when leaving the scene.
The second crash took place about five minutes later in
nearby Rosemead, California, when Bryson allegedly hit a Honda
Accord, according to the statement, which was issued along with
the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Paramedics treated Bryson at the crash site and he was
admitted to a local hospital, police said. Passengers in the
other cars had no major injuries. Commerce's Friedman said
Bryson stayed at the hospital overnight.
Bryson is a former chief executive of Edison International
.
(Additional reporting by Ron Grover in Los Angeles and Doug
Palmer in Washington; Editing by Mary Milliken and Anthonjy
Boadle)
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