Actor Morgan Freeman "In Good Spirits" After Car Crash

" title="Actor Morgan Freeman "In Good Spirits" After Car Crash" />

The Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman is recovering and is in "good spirits" in hospital after breaking his arm and elbow in a single-car accident Sunday evening near his home in Tallahatchie County in Mississippi.

Freeman, 71, was airlifted to a hospital in Memphis after being seriously injured in the Sunday-night car accident, in which he suffered a broken arm, broken elbow and minor shoulder damage.

The versatile actor, who has performed in numerous roles from children's television to Shakespearean drama, was driving a1997 Nissan Maxima belonging to Demaris Meyer of Memphis near his home in Charleston, Mississippi, when his car suddenly went off the road and flipped over several times before coming to a rest.

“There’s no indication that either alcohol or drugs were involved,” said Sergeant Ben Williams, a spokesman for the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

The actor and the female companion, Demaris Meyer of Memphis, bothe were extracted from the car with the help of the Jaws of Life (hydraulic cutters), and were airlifted to the Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center in Memphis for treatment.

While information about Meyer was not available, the early reports from the hospital described Freeman’s condition as "serious".

Freeman's publicist and sister-in-law, Donna Lee, said the co-star of the current box-office hit "The Dark Knight" though was seriously hurt in the crash, but is responding well to treatment.

"He is having a little bit of surgery this afternoon or tomorrow to help correct the damage," Lee said in a statement. "He says he'll be OK and is looking forward to a full recovery. He and we thank everyone who has sent them for the good wishes and prayers."

Born on June 1, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee, Freeman is an Academy Award-winning American actor, film director, and film narrator. He is best known for his appearances in a string of well-regarded motion pictures, including “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Lean on Me,” “Glory”, and “Million Dollar Baby”.

In 2004, Freeman won an Oscar for his supporting role in "Million Dollar Baby." He is the co-star of the most recently released summer blockbuster “The Dark Knight”.

Freeman is married twice. He was first married to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw from October 22, 1967 until 1979. Then, on June 16, 1984 he tied the holy knot with his current wife Myrna Colley-Lee. The actor has two sons, Alfonso and Saifoulaye, from previous relationships. He adopted his first wife's daughter, Deena, and the couple also had a fourth child, Morgana.