Morgan Freeman injured in auto accident

[It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery]

This doesn’t seem to be hitting any other news sites yet:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26010759/

Apparently they had to use the Jaws Of Life to extricate him (bad) but he was talking at the accident scene (good).

[DudleyGarrett]

What is the difference between serious and critical condition?

[SCSimmons]

@DudleyGarrett

What is the difference between serious and critical condition?

This should be of assistance.

[aldiboronti]

More details here .

Morgan Freeman is critically ill after a car crash, a US hospital has confirmed.

A spokesman for the Regional Medical Centre in Memphis, Tennessee, said the 71-year-old The Dark Knight actor’s condition was “serious”.

Mississippi state troopers told showbiz website TMZ.com that Freeman was involved in the crash at around 11.30pm local time on Sunday (5.30am BST), north of the small town of Ruleville. He was airlifted from the accident scene to the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where he is being treated.

An unidentified female passenger was also in the car and her condition was not known.

The hospital, commonly known as The Med, is an acute-care teaching facility which serves patients within 150 miles of Memphis.

Ashley Norris, manager of the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, which is owned by Freeman, confirmed the actor was in an accident but said she had no other details.

Clay McFerrin, editor of Sun Sentinel in Charleston, said he arrived at the accident scene on Mississippi Highway 32 soon after it happened about four miles west of Charleston, not far from where Freeman owns a home with his wife.

Mr McFerrin said it appeared that Freeman’s car was airborne when it left the highway and landed in a ditch. “They had to use the jaws of life (hydraulic cutters) to extract him from the vehicle,” he said. “He was lucid, conscious. He was talking, joking with some of the rescue workers at one point.”

[Spiritinthesky]

I just saw him in The Bucket list last week, great film.

[Scarlett67]

The MSNBC article said that he was sitting up and talking at the hospital also. More good news. Let’s send all the good thoughts of the Dope his way!

[ShelliBean]

Of course he was talking at the scene of the accident. They probably walked up with the jaws of life and were like “Hey Morgan Freeman! I love it when you talk. Can you narrate this for me?” And Morgan says “Jesus Christ people I’m hurt here. But OK. There I was driving home from a blues club when a deer ran in front of me. I wish I could say that the deer fought the good fight and my car, aka The Sisters, didn’t get him. But this is no Hollywood story. No, that deer was my car’s bitch by the time the night was over.”

[ShelliBean]

I wanted to add that here in my small town MS theater we have a wall that is “Morgan Freeman central” because apparently he visited once or twice so people around here have some sort of connection to him. Get well Mr. Freeman! There’s a whole town that admires you!

[Sampiro]

When one person tried to snap a photo with a cell phone camera, Freeman joked, “no freebies, no freebies,” McFerrin told the AP.

for Freeman’s comment
:mad: for the s.o.b. with the cell phone.

I had no idea of his connection to Mississippi:

Freeman was born in Memphis and spent part of his childhood in Mississippi. He owns a club, the Ground Zero Blues Club, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. In a 2005 interview with CNN, he said returning to the area was “one of the smartest moves I’ve made in life.”

“My aim in life, when I graduated from high school, was to get out of Mississippi,” he said. “I started coming back in about 1979, because my parents moved back, which I couldn’t understand. What in the world would make you come back here? It took me about 20 years to figure that out.”

Damn I hope he makes it. Such a touch of class in an industry that doesn’t have a lot to spare.

[Labtrash]

@ShelliBean

Of course he was talking at the scene of the accident. They probably walked up with the jaws of life and were like “Hey Morgan Freeman! I love it when you talk. Can you narrate this for me?” And Morgan says “Jesus Christ people I’m hurt here. But OK. There I was driving home from a blues club when a deer ran in front of me. I wish I could say that the deer fought the good fight and my car, aka The Sisters, didn’t get him. But this is no Hollywood story. No, that deer was my car’s bitch by the time the night was over.”

It was the longest night of that deer’s life.

[Sampiro]

@ShelliBean

Of course he was talking at the scene of the accident. They probably walked up with the jaws of life and were like “Hey Morgan Freeman! I love it when you talk. Can you narrate this for me?” And Morgan says “Jesus Christ people I’m hurt here. But OK. There I was driving home from a blues club when a deer ran in front of me. I wish I could say that the deer fought the good fight and my car, aka The Sisters, didn’t get him. But this is no Hollywood story. No, that deer was my car’s bitch by the time the night was over.”

I just hope the chopper pilot resisted the urge to say “Mistuh Freeman I’se s’pposed to be flyin’ you to the hospital!” And God help him if he has to go through physical therapy when there’s pumpkin pie present.

[DudleyGarrett]

Freeman is a millionaire several times over, and he was driving a 97 Maxima? Not ridiculous, but eyebrow raising nonetheless.

[ivylass]

I believe the Maxima belonged to a friend.

Is Morgan married?

Sending good wishes…we’re not done with him!

[Sampiro]

@ivylass

Is Morgan married?

Yes, he’s been married to his current wife for 24 years. The lady in the car wasn’t his wife (not saying that there’s anything romantic and or untoward, just saying that his wife wasn’t in the car).

After the neverending trials of Ed McMahon and Evander Holyfield and other celebrities who’ve earned millions and wound up broke, it’s actually refreshing to learn that Freeman drives a 12 year old car. He could obviously upgrade to a brand new “anything he wants” car at any time but doesn’t feel the need to, and he lives in Mississippi when he’s not filming (though I’m sure he has a house in LA as well). I think that’s really cool and really intelligent (though I’ve always thought Freeman was cool and intelligent).

ETA: Locals report he drives an old Toyota pickup around town.

[ShelliBean]

Well you know how it is around here - the only sin worse than wasting food is showing off.

[choie]

According to a statement by his business partner, Freeman’s condition is considered serious because he’s in ICU and is having surgery on a fractured elbow.

According to Bill, Morgan fractured his left elbow and has opted to have surgery. The surgery will take place tonight or tomorrow afternoon. He also said the actor has neck and shoulder injuries, but that they are not serious.

I hope this is accurate. Freeman is such a wonderful, comforting presence with a phenomenal voice. Plus he’s Easy Reader, for pete’s sake! That alone makes him genius.

[Sampiro]

The reports on CNN have been updated to say that there are no life-threatening injuries for Freeman. No update as of this writing on his co-passenger Demaris Meyer (who did own the car he was driving).

The odd thing is that he seems to be youthening… and can’t get enough transfusions.

[choie]

TMZ (which charmingly calls Mrs. Meyer “Miss Daisy”) says she was treated for her injuries and released. They say she’s a friend of Freeman’s wife, but manage to make the fact that Freeman was driving with her seem untoward. Not bad for such a short article.

[KneadToKnow]

@choie

They … manage to make the fact that Freeman was driving with her seem untoward.

Consider the source.

[norinew]

Well, Morgan is one of my all-time favorite actors. I certainly wish him well, and will be sending healing thoughts/prayers his way!

Good to know he hasn’t sustained any “life-threatening” injuries!