Ryan Crocker, a career diplomat and former U.S. Ambassador and Afghanistan, was arrested for driving under the influence and hitting a semi-truck in Washington state in mid-August, state police confirmed Thursday.
Crocker, who stepped down from the ambassadorship in July due to ill health, clipped a semi-truck on August 14th after he tried to make a right hand turn in front of the semi from the left lane.
Crocker, in his 2009 Ford Mustang convertible, was seen by witnesses as striking the semi, then spinning out, before continuing on his way without stopping.
A witness called police and then followed Crocker to a nearby bank parking lot where he was arrested. Washington State Patrol Trooper Troy Briggs said Crocker had an initial blood-alcohol level of 0.16, more than twice the state limit.
He was arrested for a hit-and-run and drunk driving, which he pleaded not guilty to at a court hearing the day after the incident.
Crocker, a career diplomat who also served as U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon, took up the post in Kabul in 2011. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President George W. Bush in 2009 for his work in Iraq.
He has been ordered not to consume alcohol or drugs unless prescribed to do so and to participate in random alcohol testing starting August 25th. His next court appearance will be September 12th.
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