Bay: LaBeouf wasn't drunk in crash

Los Angeles -- Hollywood filmmaker Michael Bay insists actor Shia LaBeouf was not drunk when he was involved in a car crash last weekend.

LaBeouf was charged with suspicion of driving under the influence in connection with Sunday's accident, however, police have said the other motorist involved in the crash was to blame for the collision because he or she ran a red light.

Bay, who directed LaBeouf in "Transformers" and who is collaborating with the 22-year-old actor on the blockbuster's sequel told "Access Hollywood:"

"You're gonna see -- that's gonna go away. That's fresh news … He was not drunk. He was drinking hours and hours before."

LaBeouf underwent extensive surgery on his hand after the early morning accident and isn't expected to return to work on "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" for about a month, his representative said this week.

Bay told "Access Hollywood" he is enjoying working with LaBeouf and defended him as someone with a good head on his shoulders.

"I spoke to him yesterday in the hospital," Bay said in the interview airing Friday. "His two fingers are pretty mashed but we're figuring out a way to shoot around it, kind of write it in the story."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.