Morgan Freeman’s passenger in an August 2008 car crash, Demaris Meyer, claimed the actor was drinking prior to the accident that left both Freeman and Meyer injured.
According to court documents filed Wednesday in Mississippi federal court and obtained by Access Hollywood, Meyer claimed that “throughout the course of dinner and afterward, drinks were consumed by Freeman” at the Bayou Bend Golf & Country Club.
Following dinner, Meyer and Freeman met up at a mutual friend’s house, where Freeman, “invited Ms. Meyer to stay at his home for the night, indicating that not only would Ms. Meyer have her own bedroom in which to stay, she would have her ‘own house.’” Meyer claimed that before leaving, “Freeman had at least one more drink.”
The court documents go on to claim that at approximately 11:30 p.m. on their way to the actor’s home, “Freeman lost control of the car, entered the left lane of traffic, over corrected his steering and ran off the right side of the highway.”
See the Morgan Freeman court documents (.PDF).
The car then went into a ditch and struck an embankment and flipped multiple times, according to Meyer.
Meyer said she suffered a broken left wrist and right scapula, a torn labrum in her right shoulder, pulmonary contusions, cervical strain and numerous bruises and lacerations. She also claimed she’s now suffering from cognitive difficulties and short-term memory loss.
Meyer is suing for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, permanent disability, mental and emotional distress and property damage.
In response to the lawsuit, a rep for Freeman told Access Hollywood, “We’re confident this will all be resolved.”
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, the accident occurred on Mississippi Highway 32 in a rural area of Tallahatchie County at 11:30 p.m. on August 3, 2008.
The doors were jammed on the vehicle and both of them had to be removed from the car with the Jaws of Life, a spokesperson for the Mississippi Highway Patrol confirmed at the time to Access.
Freeman also suffered his own injuries as a result of the crash. In January, the actor told Access he was still not able to use his left hand following surgery for a broken arm, broken elbow and minor shoulder damage.