Officials: Cabinet member suffered seizure

Associated Press

SAN GABRIEL, Calif.

A succession of small fender benders over the weekend raises questions about whether U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson has a medical or legal problem — or both.

The bizarre series of events happened Saturday afternoon when Bryson hit a car stopped for a train — twice — then rammed into another vehicle a few minutes later. He was found unconscious in his car, and government officials said Monday he had a seizure, which could play a role in whether he’s charged with felony hit-and-run.

It wasn’t clear whether the medical episode preceded or followed the collisions, but Bryson, 69, hasn’t suffered a seizure before, said a department official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the secretary’s medical history.

Bryson has a “limited recall of the events,” the official said.

The crashes drew attention because of health concerns involving a member of the U.S. Cabinet, as well as the challenge investigators face when trying to determine if someone should be held criminally responsible because of adverse health.