commerce secretary John
Bryson resigns 21 June 2012 Last updated at 17:01 A US cabinet member who was found slumped
at the wheel of his car after three crashes in
California earlier this month has resigned. Commerce Secretary John Bryson announced he
was standing down in a letter to department
employees. He went on medical leave after the collisions, which
were said to have been caused by a seizure. Police described one of the crashes, which took
place on a Saturday afternoon in June, as a hit-and-
run. Mr Bryson's deputy, Rebecca Blank, has stood in
for him during his leave, and will become acting
secretary. In a letter to President Barack Obama, Mr Bryson
said he had "concluded that the seizure I suffered
on June 9th could be a distraction from my
performance as Secretary". Mr Obama said he had accepted Mr Bryson's
resignation letter on Wednesday evening, extending
his "deepest thanks and appreciation to John for his
service over the past months". The president is expected to meet the former
secretary on Thursday afternoon. In the first collision on 9 June, Mr Bryson's Lexus
hit a Buick in the city of San Gabriel. He spoke to three male occupants of the vehicle
and left the scene, but apparently hit the car again
as he did so, said police. The Buick then followed Mr Bryson's Lexus and the
occupants called for police assistance. A few minutes later, Mr Bryson was involved in
another collision with a Honda as his car crossed
into the nearby city of Rosemead. He was found
alone and unconscious behind the wheel. Police said at the time there was no indication of
alcohol or drug use. Mr Bryson had served in the post for less than one
year, replacing Gary Locke, who was named US China ambasador