Shia's healing hands need time

2008-08-04 14:00

Anthony McCartney

Los Angeles - Shia LaBeouf could have a long road before him as he recovers from the accident that crushed his hand, his lawyer says.

LaBeouf, 22, was injured in a late-night crash last Sunday in West Hollywood that flipped his truck. The Indiana Jones star was cited for drunken driving, but authorities have since said he was not at fault, and that the other driver apparently ran a red light.

Michael Norris, LaBeouf's attorney, said in a statement Friday LaBeouf underwent four hours of surgery. His left arm remains immobilised from the elbow down.

"He will need regular medical supervision until his doctors clear him to return to work," Norris said in the statement. "His doctors remain hopeful that he will fully recover, but due to extensive surgery and the nature of the injuries, there remains a substantial risk of both infection and other complications."

Two fingers are 'smashed'

Photos posted on entertainment blogs on Friday showed the actor wearing jeans, a peak cap and a T-shirt missing one sleeve as he smoked a cigarette outside the Los Angeles hospital where he has been recovering since the surgery. Bandages and a brace cover his left arm, leaving only his pinkie finger exposed.

LaBeouf has been filming the Transformers sequel, Revenge of the Fallen. Director Michael Bay said the injury may be added to the script.

"His two fingers are pretty smashed, but we're figuring out a way to shoot around it, kind of write it into the story," Bay said during an interview on Friday.

Bay claimed his leading man was not drunk at the time of the crash and insisted that "that's gonna go away."

"He was drinking hours and hours before," Bay told the syndicated entertainment show.

LaBeouf's passenger in the accident was Isabel Lucas, a 23-year-old Australian actress who appears in the Transformers sequel. She was not injured.

Sheriff's officials have said they won't release the other driver's name until the official investigation is completed and a report is issued, which could take weeks.

LaBeouf's attorney said the actor has co-operated with police and that independent investigators "received information that suggests that the other driver may have been travelling more than 80km/h, and may not have been looking forward at the time of the accident."

LaBeouf can next be seen in the thriller Eagle Eye, due for release soon.

- AP