Ex-U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan arrested

Ambassador Ryan Crocker testifies during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee June 8, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. / Getty Images/Alex Wong

Updated 6:22 PM ET

(CBS/AP) SPOKANE, Wash. - Former U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker is facing hit-and-run and drunken driving charges in Washington state after striking a semi-truck when he tried to make a right turn from the left lane, authorities said Thursday.

The 63-year-old Spokane native registered a .160 blood-alcohol content -- twice the legal limit -- and a .152 in successive breath tests when was arrested Aug. 14 in Spokane Valley, Washington State Patrol Trooper Troy Briggs said.

Crocker, who was driving a 2009 Ford Mustang convertible, was stopped in the left lane at a red light. And when the light turned green, he tried to turn right across the path of the semi in the right lane, Briggs said.

Watch "CBS Evening News" anchor Scott Pelley interview then-Ambassador Crocker from July on the Taliban's reluctance to talk:

The vehicles collided and Crocker's car spun out, but he kept driving, Briggs said. A witness followed him to a nearby bank and called police.

"He was very cooperative but obviously intoxicated," Briggs said.

CBS affiliate KREM Spokane reported that Crocker put in a not guilty plea, according to court documents. His lawyer, Julie Twyford, did not immediately return a call or email from The Associated Press on Thursday.

Crocker retired from the foreign service last month after serving three decades in some of the world's most dangerous hotspots, most recently Afghanistan.

An Arabic speaker and six-time ambassador, he came out of an earlier retirement last year to take the helm of the embassy at President Barack Obama's request. This year, Crocker announced he was retiring due to a serious health issue that he previously had while ambassador to Iraq.

Watch Scott Pelley's interview with Crocker from July in which he talks about the possibility U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014:

He also ran embassies in Iraq, Pakistan, Kuwait, Lebanon and Syria.

Crocker was in Beirut when the U.S. Embassy there was blown up in 1983, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans. His residence in Syria was ransacked by a mob when he was ambassador there in 1998, and insurgents attacked the embassy in Kabul last September during Crocker's service there.

He served as ambassador to Iraq from 2007 through 2009. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.

Crocker has been on leave from his position as dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.

His next court appearance is scheduled for September 12.

[TominTX]

Serious health issue = alcoholic

[askagain]

What a way to end a career. Sadly, all it takes is one mistep to put a blemish on one's record. And you can tell from the posts that this guy's past accomplishments mean nothing to them other than a joke. That alone speaks loudly of ourselves and how unappreciative we are of the accomplishments of other people.

[hlmelsaidtwitter]

Alcohol level.

[hlmelsaidtwitter]

Alcohol level.

[formerlyluvnut]

Musta forgot where he is and that he doesn't have diplomatic immunity anymore LOL.