U.S. Commerce Secretary blamed for two traffic accidentsJune 11, 2012 - 22:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson suffered a seizure while driving his car in Los Angeles over the weekend, causing two separate traffic accidents just minutes apart, U.S. officials said Monday, June 11, according to AFP. "Secretary Bryson was involved in a traffic accident in Los Angeles over the weekend. He suffered a seizure," Commerce Department spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman said in a statement. "He was taken to the hospital for examination and remained overnight for observation. He was released and has returned to Washington," Friedman said. A statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Bryson's Lexus rear-ended another car Saturday as it waited at a railway crossing in the city of San Gabriel. According to the statement, Bryson, 68, spoke with three males in the damaged car and then drove away, hitting their Buick again in the process. He then drove to the city of Rosemead, where he struck a second car, said officials, who said the secretary later was found "alone and unconscious behind the wheel of his vehicle." Bryson was treated at the scene by paramedics, then transported to a local hospital where he received "treatment for non life-threatening injuries," the sheriff's department said. News reports earlier Monday had said that Bryson was under investigation for the charge of hit-and-run, a felony in California if one leaves the scene of an accident. Only minor injuries were sustained by the individuals in the cars struck by Bryson, officials said. The Commerce Department, which said an investigation was underway, said Bryson had no public events scheduled for Monday. A Commerce official who spoke on background said that at the time of the accidents Bryson was "on personal time with no security detail," since he was not on official business. "He was driving his own vehicle. He was given medication to treat the seizure," the official said. Bryson was confirmed as commerce secretary in October of last year, replacing Gary Locke who was named U.S. ambassador to China. Prior to taking up his post at the department, he was chairman, chief executive and president of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Iran’s Red Crescent sends aid to Armenia’s flood-hit regions The Iranian Red Crescent Society has sent humanitarian aid to the victims of deadly floods that hit northern Armenia on May 25-26. Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. |