Actor Morgan Freeman hurt in car crash (1st Lead)

Los Angeles - Actor Morgan Freeman has been seriously injured in a car crash in Mississippi, authorities said Monday. (FILE) A file picture dated 18 December 2007 shows US Actor Morgan Freeman during a luncheon in Washington, D.C., USA. Freeman has been injured in car accident in Mississippi late 03 August 2008 EPA/SHAWN THEW

(FILE) A file picture dated 18 December 2007 shows US Actor Morgan Freeman during a luncheon in Washington, D.C., USA. Freeman has been injured in car accident in Mississippi late 03 August 2008 EPA/SHAWN THEWThe incident occurred Sunday night near the ranch where Morgan lives with his wife. 'All I can say is one word: His condition is 'serious,' ' Kathy Stringer, a spokesperson for the Regional Medical Center in Memphis told People magazine. The actor, 71, who is currently appears in the hit movie The Dark Knight, was helicoptered from the scene of the crash to the hospital after the car he was driving rolled over several times and landed in a ditch. Celebrity website TMZ.com said he was able to talk to officers at the scene and quoted a friend of Freeman as saying that he had suffered several broken ribs. Later reports said that he had broken an arm and a shoulder but was expected to make a full recovery. Freeman was driving a Nissan that belonged to a woman named Demaris Meyer, who was also injured in the crash. No other vehicles were involved in the incident. But police ruled out that alcohol or drugs played a role and were investigating whether Freeman fell asleep at the wheel. Freeman won the Academy Award in 2004 for his supporting role in Million Dollar Baby and earned a Golden Globe Award for best actor for the 1990 film Driving Miss Daisy.