Monday, August 4, 2008

Morgan Freeman Badly Hurt in Car Crash

Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman is in a hospital in Memphis, Tenn., after being seriously injured in a car accident near his home in Mississippi. Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Kathy Stringer said Freeman, 71, is in serious condition. The hospital is about 90 miles north of the accident scene in rural Tallahatchie County in the Mississippi Delta.

Freeman was driving a 1997 Nissan Maxima belonging to Demaris Meyer of Memphis when the car left a rural highway and flipped several times shortly before midnight Sunday. It has been reported there's no indication that either alcohol or drugs were involved and he and his passenger were wearing seat belts. Freeman was airlifted to the hospital in Tennessee. It appeared that Freeman's car was airborne when it left the highway and landed in a ditch.
The jaws of life were used to extract him from the vehicle. He was lucid, conscious, talking and joking with some of the rescue workers at one point. When one person tried to snap a photo with a cell phone camera, Freeman joked, "no freebies, no freebies".

Freeman won an Oscar for his role in "Million Dollar Baby." His screen credits also include "The Shawshank Redemption," "Driving Miss Daisy" and "The Dark Knight," now in theaters. He was born in Memphis, Tenn., but spent much of his childhood in the Mississippi Delta. He is a co-owner of the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale. Here's wishing Mr. Freeman a speedy recovery.

10 comments:

X. Dell said...

I heard about this earlier this morning. Anxious times. A man that age doesn't heal quickly, but it sounds like he will survive.

Lori said...

Hey, I heard he fell asleep behind the wheel. Those dark Mississippi roads are no joke. To be quite honest, I've never liked driving through Mississippi at night . . . for lots of different reasons (smile).

Hopefully Mr. Freeman will be up and back at it soon.

Malcolm said...

I read the shocking news yesterday evening. When I read the part about the person trying to take a pic with their cell phone camera, I just shook my head at their lack of class. It's a testament to Morgan Freeman's class that he made a joke out of this situation instead of telling the would-be photographer off.

pjazzypar said...

X. Dell, It is so true about 'old bones'. I brought my ankle back in the mid 90's and never fully recovered.

Lori, I don't think I have ever been to Mississippi, although I do want to go to Mr. Freeman's club, I have never had any real desire to go to Mississippi. As Gil Scott Heron once asked "What has 4 eyes but will never see?". The state is certainly not the most illustrious in the union.

Malcolm, Morgan Freeman has always been cool, even when he was the 'Easy Reader'. You never hear about him doing stupid stuff for the paparazzi. I hate when so called fans try to take advantage of a photo op, especially at a time of tragedy, such as this.

Anonymous said...

they said that when they picked him up that he was conscious and joking with the emt, so that was a good sign.

i am banking that he will make a speedy recovery.

:::Marcus LANGFORD:::

Anonymous said...

I'm keeping my hopes he has a speedy recovery and gets back on his feet soon.

Anything Morgan Freeman is in is always a great production worth seeing - sometimes just because he's in it.

Get well soon, Mr. Freeman!

The Rock Chick said...

I heard that he was released from the hospital today so he must be doing better.

I also heard that his wife filed for divorce from him today. Perhaps my mind just works suspiciously, but when the news of the accident broke, the first thing I said to myself is why is Morgan Freeman driving a 1997 Nissan? It just seemed strange to me.

The timing of the divorce filing suggests to me that Mrs. Freeman might not be too happy with his choice of passengers. I hope that isn't the case.

pjazzypar said...

Hi Marcus, I hear from the Rock Chick that he has been released from the hospital, so he is probably fine.

PopArtDiva, I totally agree with your sentiments about his acting. You might not go to a particular film to see him, but you are always glad he took the role. I like the fact that after all these years he is very much in demand. Like Sean Connery, age has not stifled him in the least.

Hey RC, I am glad he is okay. Mr. Freeman is an icon to me, I always respect his choice of roles. It does sadden me about his marriage because he and his wife have been together forever. I am pretty sure they did not break up this week, however this incident probably caused the press to delve into his private life. It's a shame.

Anonymous said...

I kinda felt bad from him until I found out about his divorce. I mean, what the heck is he doing getting a divorce at 74-years old!? He should definitely be on the porch rockin' back and forth enjoying some freshly squeezed lemonade with the wifey. Maybe I missed something. SMH!

:::Marcus LANGFORD:::

pjazzypar said...

Marcus, You're funny! Somebody on television said he is too old and spotty (referring to the moles on his face) to be getting a divorce. I am with you, 74 is too old to be starting over.