In Review

09 January 2009 12:38 BST

Morgan Freeman 'in good spirits' after car accident

Morgan Freeman is "in good spirits" after being hurt in a serious a car accident in Mississippi.

The Dark Knight star was involved in an accident at around 23:30 local time (07:30 BST) on Monday near the small time of Ruleville and was airlifted from the scene according to celebrity website TMZ.com.

His spokeswoman Donna Lee confirmed the Oscar-winner had sustained a broken arm, broken elbow and minor shoulder damage but was expected to make a good recovery.

"He is having a little bit of surgery this afternoon or tomorrow to help correct the damage," she added. "He says he'll be OK and is looking forward to a full recovery."

The actor was driving on Highway 32 in Tallahatchie County when he lost control of his vehicle, which flipped, turning several times before landing upright in a ditch.

Both Freeman and his female passenger Demaris Meyer were wearing seatbelts during the crash, Mississippi Highway Patrol Sergeant Ben Williams confirmed.

"There's no indication that either alcohol or drugs were involved," he added.

Clay McFerrin, a local journalist who had been at the scene on Highway 32 after the crash, told the Associated Press news agency Freeman was "lucid, conscious" following the accident.

"He was talking, joking with some of the rescue workers at one point," he added.

The Bucket List star is also said to have joked: "No freebies, no freebies" when an onlooker attempted to take a picture of the wreck with their mobile phone.