Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
Jake Tapper reports that U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson is suspected of felony hit and run after he hit two cars a total of three times in southern California on Saturday night before being found unconscious behind the wheel of his Lexus:
Bryson was allegedly driving his Lexus traveling southbound on San Gabriel Boulevard at 5:05 Pacific Time when he rear-ended a Buick that had stopped and was waiting for a train to pass, authorities said.
Bryson got out of his car, spoke to the three males in the Buick, "then left the scene, hitting the same car as he left the scene," read a joint statement from the San Gabriel Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. "The three males followed him in their car while calling San Gabriel Police officers via 911 and asking for assistance."
In yet another bizarre twist to the story, about five minutes later Bryson allegedly then hit a Honda Accord containing a man and woman in the city of Rosemead and "was found alone and unconscious behind the wheel of his vehicle."
None of that sounds good, of course, but this makes it sound like it wasn't an incident involving alcohol or drugs:
"Information was given that he suffers from a preexisting medical condition," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Mark Pope told ABC News Radio.
No information about his medical condition was immediately forthcoming from the White House or Commerce Department.
First off, let's be thankful that no one was significantly hurt. But now I'm wondering what type of pre-existing medical condition could lead to this incident. If it's pre-existing, it sounds like it's not that he had some stroke that led him to do these things. My diabetic sister-in-law once had a pretty scary car accident but that doesn't seem like what this was. So what would it be? Any ideas?
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Jan '11
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
Sounds like a story of a neighbor ... brain tumor. That's how they found out. It also reminds me of the story of Robert Novak, who had an odd traffic accident before they publicly released the information that he was suffering from something similar.
Dec '10
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
Years ago we had a pretty hard core diabetic fellow working for our construction company, and when he went into insulin shock, he'd turn into what can only be described as a very violent yet methodical zombie.
He could drive from point A to point B just fine, but he'd run into people who crossed his path at the wrong time, or didn't signal, etc.
If anyone except my mother, his mother, his sister, or his wife spoke to him or tried to touch him when he was in that condition he would become extremely violent.
I've not met another person who reacted that same way since, but people like that do exist.
The guy eventually had an insulin pump installed, and that pretty much fixed his problem.
Hard working guy he was. Could do more by himself than any other three man crew we ran. Very hard on tools and equipment though.
I guess nothing could keep up with his pace, not even the tools.
Jun '10
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
Yes, it does sound like a replay of Novak's accident. There are also some drugs that can cause psychiatric side effects in some people.
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
If it was a diabetic attack, that would fit under "pre-existing condition" but if it were something like the discovery of a brain tumor, that wouldn't be pre-existing.
But as for the diabetes story, that actually sounds very much like my sister-in-law. She wouldn't have been able to get out of the car and have a conversation with someone and then get back in and hit two more cars, though.
Still, I'm wondering if the mistake in the report is describing his condition as "pre-existing."
So thankful that everyone is ok, though. This could have been much worse.
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
I should also clarify that investigators say that they haven't ruled out drugs or alcohol and are waiting back on tests.
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
A spokesman for the Commerce Department has said that Bryson "suffered a seizure" in connection with the accidents, has returned to DC and has no public meetings today.
Stay tuned ...
Jun '10
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: A spokesman for the Commerce Department has said that Bryson "suffered a seizure" in connection with the accidents, has returned to DC and has no public meetings today.
Stay tuned ... · 2 minutes ago
If that was typical of his seizures, he wouldn't still be driving, would he? So that maybe leads to a conclusion that his "preexisting condition" is getting gradually worse. What condition associated with the brain gets gradually worse over time? A tumor?
May '11
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
If it was a preexisting condition, the he is liable the same as if he were DUI.
Florida has started to crack down on seniors who drive while influenced by their medications and cause accidents. They are being treated as DUIs.
Dec '10
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
Pilli: If it was a preexisting condition, the he is liable the same as if he were DUI.
Florida has started to crack down on seniors who drive while influenced by their medications and cause accidents. They are being treated as DUIs. · 0 minutes ago
It depends. If he'd had a seizure before and was not taking the proper medicine, it's his fault. If he'd not had a seizure, maybe not.
Jun '10
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
My smart response is that Mollie was merely using this story as a metaphor for Obamanomics. Crash once, and if that doesn't work, crash it two more times.
Dec '10
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
Just seniors?
Jun '12
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
While I have sympathy for whatever medical issues Secretary Bryson is suffering -- I have a hidden disability myself, though not one that interferes with my driving -- given the arrogance of the Obama Administration I also wonder if there wasn't at least a little "I'm an elite government official, I don't have to stop" going on in his head during the second and third incidents.
Jun '10
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
When my mother had two seizures, she was legally prohibited from driving until she was seizure-free for six months. If the Secretary had been seizure-free and was on meds, then he is not culpable for the accident.
I can't believe I am saying this but until, drugs or alcohol are proved, I am giving him a medical pass.
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
AUMom:
I can't believe I am saying this but until, drugs or alcohol are proved, I am giving him a medical pass. · 7 minutes ago
No, I totally agree. In fact, I've heard of similar weird driving stories with friends or acquaintances who were in no way inebriated, so my assumption is that it's medical.
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
I will say this: it's reported that the White House found out about this incident after the news broke publicly and at least a day after the initial crash. That is just bad form and Bryson's posse should have known better. I'd be really upset if I were President Obama. Did they think they could or should hide such an incident? That's ridiculous.
Sep '11
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
I think this is a good example of a story that probably needs to ripen in the sunlight a bit before we know what it amounts to.
Aug '10
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
Another of the hidden cabinet . Who here had ever heard of this guy before ? What are his accomplishments ? What has he been working on ?
Sorry about the wreck and all, but there is another glaring example of the clumsiest admin in a long time.
Oct '11
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
If he was blotto before the accident, that'd be a pre-existing condition. If you're a Democrat.
Jun '11
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
Let's not forget, Chief Justice Roberts also had an unexplained seizure a few years ago:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,291473,00.html
I'm willing to give the Secretary the benefit of the doubt on this one - at least until the toxicology reports come in. As a former paramedic, I've seen many of these types of incidents - stone sober folks acting strangely for no apparent reason.
Doc
Edited on June 12, 2012 at 5:17pmFeb '12
Re: Commerce Secretary Bryson's Hit-And-Runs
That's the key fact, and one that I don't see anybody else mentioning. A seizure is a good excuse for one accident per night, but he had three. That shows complete lack of judgement or arrogance. It sounds exactly like whisky's effect on many people, in fact, so I think we're reasonable in believing that and disbelieving the claims that drugs and alcohol played no role in this incident involving a powerful and rich politician. We can use a version of Hume's miracle argument: Which is more probable, that a seizure caused three separate accidents, or that police lied about someone drinking to protect the political party of their boss?