Commerce secretary cited with hit-and-run after two reported accidents June 11, 2012 -- Updated 1131 GMT (1931 HKT) U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson was appointed to his post in October 2011. NEW: Commerce Department confirms an accident, says agency chief was uninjured Commerce Secretary John Bryson is cited with felony hit-and-run, police say No indication alcohol or drugs were involved, although tests are still pending, police say Bryson took over as Commerce Secretary in October (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson was cited with felony hit-and-run after allegedly causing two car accidents within minutes of one another in southern California, a police spokesman told CNN early Monday. Authorities cited Bryson at an area hospital where he was treated for injuries sustained in the accidents, Lt. Ariel Duran of the San Gabriel Police Department said. Commerce Department spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman said Bryson was involved involved in an accident, but was uninjured. He has been released from the hospital, she said in a statement. The accidents occurred Saturday evening, officials said. Bryson, who was driving a Lexus, rear-ended a Buick that was stopped at a railroad crossing in San Gabriel, police said Sunday in a statement. The men in the Buick followed Bryson while calling 911 to report the accident, it said. Bryson then drove to the neighboring city of Rosemead. where he hit a second car, according to authorities. The commerce secretary was found "alone and unconscious behind the wheel of his vehicle," according to the police statement. Paramedics treated him at the scene and took him to an area hospital, Duran said. Two of the three men in the Buick were treated for minor injuries, according to police. At this point in time, there is no indication that alcohol or drugs played a role in the collisions," police said in the statement. A preliminary alcohol screening of Bryson was negative, Duran said. Results from a blood alcohol test were pending, he said. President Barack Obama nominated Bryson to succeed Gary Locke as commerce secretary in May 2011. Following Senate confirmation, he became the 37th Secretary of Commerce in October. He served as chairman of the California utility company Edison International from 1990 until 2008.