U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson Monday took medical leave, after he was found unconscious following two mysterious hit-and-run car accidents, possibly caused by a seizure, the White House said.

Bryson, 68, is under investigation over two incidents in California on Saturday, where he was traveling privately without his security detail.

Authorities say neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected.

President Barack Obama's spokesman Jay Carney said Bryson told the White House Monday night that he would take a medical leave pending "tests and evaluations" but did not say how long he would be absent.

Earlier, Obama had told an Iowa television station that he hoped that Bryson was well, and that he was seeking clarity on exactly what happened.

"We are still trying to find out, it sounds like it was health-related in some way, but we are going to make sure that obviously he gets the best care and we will be able to make a determination from there," Obama said.

Carney said Bryson, who is back in Washington, assured the White House "that the Commerce Department staff will not miss a beat in their work helping America's businesses compete."

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 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, and then transported to a local hospital where he received "treatment for non life-threatening injuries," the sheriff's department said.

CNN reported that Bryson had no previous history of seizures, while the LA Times cited sources saying he had "limited recall" about Saturday's events.

News reports earlier Monday had said that Bryson was under investigation for the charge of felony hit-and-run, but it is unclear whether charges will be pressed if the collisions were found to be due to a medical condition.

"The preliminary investigation at the scene showed no indication of alcohol or drugs," said LA County Sheriff's Department spokesman Mike Parker, while officials noted that the crashes resulted in only minor injuries to others.

The Commerce Department said an investigation had been launched, adding that 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, who has a home in the area, was in southern California to give the commencement address at Pasadena Polytechnic School on Thursday, which his four daughters once attended, according to school officials cited by the LA Times.

Carney said Obama had not spoken to Bryson since the incident, but that his chief of staff Jack Lew had done so.

Bryson was confirmed as commerce secretary in October of last year, replacing Gary Locke who was named US 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. (AFP)

<한글 기사>

美장관, 뺑소니 혐의로 경찰 조사 중

건강문제 해결위해 병가…상무부 "운전 중 발작"

존 브라이슨 미국 상무부 장관이 중죄에 해당하는 뺑소니 사고에 연루돼 경찰로부터 출석요구서를 발부 받았다고 미국 언론들이 11일(현지시간) 보도했다.

상무부는 올해 68세인 브라이슨 장관이 운전 중 발작 증세를 일으켰다고 설명했다.

브라이슨 장관은 성명을 통해 "건강문제 해결에 전념키 위해 즉각 병가를 내겠다고 버락 오바마 대통령에게 보고했다"고 밝혔다.

이에 따라 레베카 블랭크 상무부 차관이 당분간 장관 직무대행을 맡게 됐다.

제이 카니 백악관 대변인은 "정부는 아직 사고와 관련된 정보를 수집하고 있고, 건강 문제가 사고와 연관돼 있다는 점에서 매우 우려하고 있다"고 밝혔다.

앞서 오바마 대통령은 사고 당일 TV 인터뷰에서 "미 정부는 사고 당일 무슨 일이 일어났는지 조사중"이라며 "아울러 브라이슨 장관이 치료를 받을 수 있도록 확실 한 조치를 취할 것"이라고 밝혔다.

경찰에 따르면 그는 주말이던 지난 9일 오후 5시5분께 캘리포니아주(州) 로스앤 젤레스 근교 샌 개브리얼 밸리에서 2건의 추돌사고를 잇따라 낸 혐의로 공식 입건되기에 앞서 예비조사를 받고 있다.

그는 렉서스 승용차를 운전하던 중 열차가 지나가기를 기다리던 뷰익 승용차를 추돌했으며 차 안에 있던 3명의 남성과 잠깐 이야기하고 나서 현장을 떠나려다 이 차를 또 들이받았다.

뷰익 차량 탑승자들은 경찰에 신고하고 브라이슨 장관의 차를 뒤따라갔다.

브라이슨 장관은 5분쯤 지난 뒤 또 다른 승용차를 받았으며 이때는 의식불명 상태로 LA 카운티 소방당국의 현장 처치를 받고 나서 현지 병원으로 옮겨졌다.

경찰은 그가 사고 당시 약간 이상 행동을 했지만, 마약 복용이나 음주 상태는 아니었으며 혈중 알코올 농도 측정 테스트도 통과했다고 설명했다.

또 2건의 사고를 당한 다른 차량 운전자들도 중상은 없다고 덧붙였다.

이와 관련, 제니퍼 프리드먼 상무부 대변인은 "브라이슨 장관이 교통사고 당시 발작 증세를 일으켰다"며 "병원에서 밤새 치료를 받은 뒤 워싱턴DC로 돌아왔다"고 말했다.

지난해 10월 임명된 브라이슨 장관은 딸들이 다니는 패서디나 소재 폴리테크닉 학교의 졸업식 축사를 위해 캘리포니아를 방문 중이었다.