Country Star Travis Tritt Involved in Fatal Accident
Travis Tritt was involved in a fatal car accident just before 3 AM Saturday morning.
The country star was on his tour bus on a South Carolina highway when he says a Jeep, going the wrong way, hit a pickup truck in front of his vehicle, killing 2 -- the driver of the jeep and the passenger in the truck that was struck. His tour bus was sideswiped by another vehicle and only sustained minor damage. No one on the bus was injured.
Travis said, "I feel so bad for those who died needlessly tonight. I’m literally shaken by what I witnessed. God bless those who died and their families. Two human beings died tonight for no reason other than stupidity. I’m saddened beyond belief!"
It's unclear why the Jeep was going the wrong way, but Travis said, "I’m told that two people were killed in tonight’s accident as the the result of someone who was obviously driving drunk or impaired. Just a sober reminder to everyone to never drive if you’ve been drinking or impaired in any way. Uber or Lyft is just a phone call away."
He went on ... "I beg everyone to please, please, please drive sober. Know when to admit that you are too impaired to drive."
See also
Stevie J Crashed Into Another Car ... It's Not My Fault!!!
Stevie J backed his luxury SUV into another car -- causing a ton of damage -- and allegedly didn't have insurance, but Stevie says insurance doesn't matter ... 'cause he ain't to blame!!!
The accident went down in an LA gym parking lot Last month when the ex "Love and Hip Hop" star got stuck exiting at the ticket machine. We're told he threw his Mercedes in reverse and slammed into the car behind him.
We've obtained pics from the accident, and as you can see ... the other guy's vehicle sustained major front-end damage, including a bent hood.
The driver says his total damage was around $4,000.
The motorist claims Stevie admitted he fudged up, flashed a California ID, but said he didn't have his insurance card on him. We're told Stevie tried to get his wife, Faith Evans, to bring him the insurance card, but she was too busy. Instead, Stevie provided his insurance company's name.
That sounded well and good, but the other driver tells us after he submitted his claim, the insurance company said Stevie wasn't listed on Faith's policy ... so it rejected the claim. The man says he tried calling and texting Stevie to get answers, but got crickets.
Stevie did respond to us and insisted the other driver actually plowed into his SUV.
There's no police report, only an incident report from parking lot personnel. The man says he didn't go to cops because he initially trusted Stevie -- but says now HIS insurance will be taking legal action.
See also
Sec. of State Mike Pompeo CHP Officer Hit By Car, Injured ... While Escorting Motorcade
5/12 8:00 AM PT -- A Secret Service source tells TMZ, the motorcade did indeed stop for a minute as CHP officers assisted the injured deputy, who suffered minor injuries.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip through L.A. was almost interrupted by a driver who hit one of the local officers helping escort his motorcade -- we say almost 'cause the rest of the fleet kept on going.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... a CHP officer on a motorcycle was broadsided Saturday while blocking traffic for Pompeo's motorcade, which was getting off the 405 freeway at the La Cienega exit. We're told a driver -- who was going about 20 MPH -- made an illegal U-turn and clipped the guy.
Video of the scene shows the officer lying on the ground and being tended to by fire personnel that responded. Our sources say the officer was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
Meanwhile, we're told the rest of the motorcade continued on its way ... seemingly unaware of the accident that just occurred behind them. That, or they were in a hurry to get the SoS somewhere ASAP.
It appears the driver in question lost his bumper in the collision too, but got out of his car to survey the damage. It's unclear if any arrests were made on the spot.
.@SecPompeo travels to Moscow and Sochi, #Russia, May 12-14. On May 13, he meets with @USEmbRu team, U.S. business leaders, and U.S. exchange alumni. He will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On May 14, he meets with Foreign Minister Lavrov and President Putin. pic.twitter.com/WSDImu89Ga
@statedeptspox
No official word on what Sec. Pompeo was doing in town -- he's supposed to fly to Russia this week to handle some official diplomatic business, and is set to meet with Putin himself on Tuesday.
See also
Jason Pierre-Paul Wrecked Car Was $350k Ferrari ... Officials Blamed Weather
Jason Pierre-Paul was behind the wheel of $350,000 Ferrari when he crashed into a concrete barrier on May 2 ... this according to the crash report obtained by TMZ Sports.
The Florida Highway Patrol states JPP was driving a red 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista -- a rocket ship on wheels that tops out at 211 mph. The car goes from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds.
Officials say the Tampa Bay Bucs superstar lost control of the car around 2:38 AM and collided with a concrete barrier on I-95 in Fort Lauderdale. There were no skid marks or debris found in the roadway.
Despite the curious time of the accident, officials say the responding officers did NOT suspect JPP was under the influence of alcohol or drugs ... and was NOT tested for either.
Instead, cops say they believe "weather conditions" -- specifically wet road surfaces -- caused the NFL star to lose control.
JPP and his passenger were transported to a nearby hospital. The NFL star reportedly suffered a broken neck and will likely be out for the 2019 NFL season.
See also
Justin Bieber Paparazzo I Ran Over ... It's His Own Damn Fault
Justin Bieber says the photog he ran over and injured has no one to blame but himself ... and his fellow paparazzi.
As we reported, a paparazzo is suing Bieber for serious injuries he suffered in July, 2017, when Justin was pulling away from the place he goes to church in Bev Hills, and creamed the guy.
07/26/17
The photog says he suffered permanent disabilities along with emotional scars. The injuries include a torn meniscus and a screwed up kneecap.
Bieber just filed his answer to the lawsuit, and says it was caused by the negligence of the photographer along with his cohorts who were trying to snap a shot as the singer drove away.
You see in the video ... Justin initially creeps forward in his truck but then seems to lurch ... and that's when he makes contact with the photog.
The photog, William Wilson, crumbled to the ground. Bieber got out and tried to help him before paramedics arrived and took Wilson to the hospital.
See also
'Storage Wars' Star Barry Weiss Difficult Road Ahead After Motorcycle Crash
Barry Weiss is being put through the wringer following his nasty motorcycle accident, and he has more obstacles ahead on his road to recovery.
Sources close to the "Storage Wars" star tell TMZ ... he's had to undergo multiple surgeries since the crash last week -- one on his back and one on his femur. We're told more procedures will follow.
Despite the difficulties, our sources say Barry's in stable condition and alert ... and he's eager to get out of a hospital bed and go home.
We've also obtained a 911 call of the incident from the driver of the car that was hit by Barry's chopper. She tells the operator she got hit from behind, and someone was tending to him on the street.
We broke the story ... Barry and his friend were riding bikes last Wednesday in the Los Feliz area of L.A. when a car allegedly pulled out in front of them from a parking space. Barry and his friend both slammed into the back of it and went down, but Weiss got the worst of it.
We're told drugs or alcohol were not a factor in the accident.
Get well soon, Barry!!!
See also
Johnny Depp Van Crashes Outside His Home ... Driver Flees Scene!!!
-
EXCLUSIVE
- 514 shares
Johnny Depp got an unwanted visitor at his Los Angeles estate when an unknown driver smashed a van into a street sign ... then ghosted before cops could show up.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police are investigating a hit-and-run outside the actor's home after someone crashed into a "no parking" sign around 3:30 AM Thursday. We know what you're thinking -- this is someone with a parking grudge against the city.
Could be, but there's no way to know for sure because the clown left a banged up 2000 Chevy van, and fled the scene. Johnny's home itself wasn't damaged -- just the one fallen soldier ... the sign just to the left of his driveway.
We're told the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star was not home at the time of the crash.
As you can see in our pics from the scene ... the street sign broke at its base, toppling over and taking out some shrubbery. Our law enforcement sources say police recovered the van, but there was no note with contact info.
That means the driver's on the hook for a hit-and-run.
See also
Michael Madsen Loses $100k Movie Role ... Because of DUI Charge
-
EXCLUSIVE
- 453 shares
Michael Madsen's recent DUI charge is already costing him a big payday -- even though he hasn't been convicted, he's been 86'd from a movie.
Sources close to production on the upcoming flick, "Chronicle of a Serial Killer," tell TMZ ... Michael's reps were notified Thursday he's been canned from the cast. That's no small loss for Madsen, who was supposed to earn $100,000 for gig.
We broke the story ... Michael was just charged with 2 misdemeanors for DUI after smashing his Land Rover in Malibu last month. Our sources tell us that's the reason he's getting booted from the movie.
Filming begins next month in NYC, and we're told production is worried Madsen won't be around to shoot ... because he could be heading to jail. Michael's a repeat DUI offender, and mandatory sentencing guidelines mean he could get anywhere from 4 to 364 days in county lockup ... if convicted.
It's kinda ironic ... Michael was cast to play an NYPD officer in 'Serial Killer,' a psychological thriller/drama co-starring Tara Reid, DMX and Brendan Sexton III.
A replacement is already in the works. We're told James Russo just signed on to the cast ... most likely to fill Michael's role.
See also
Uber Fires Driver Accused of Killing Ex-UFC Fighter
-
EXCLUSIVE
- 490 shares
The Uber driver accused of killing former UFC fighter Rodrigo de Lima during an altercation in Brazil on Sunday has been fired by the rideshare company ... an Uber spokesperson tells TMZ Sports.
As we previously reported, the 26-year-old MMA fighter was a passenger in an Uber in Belem, Brazil with friends when he allegedly got into a verbal altercation with the driver.
The driver, later identified as Jefferson Roger Maciel, reportedly kicked Rodrigo out the car -- and despite initially driving away from the scene, turned around and smashed into Rodrigo from behind.
Rodrigo died from his injuries. He's survived by a wife and 2 young children.
A rep fro Uber confirmed Maciel was working for them at the time of the incident.
Uber says allegations are "horrible" -- adding, "As soon as we learned of this incident we immediately removed the driver’s access to the app and we stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation."
On Monday, cops said they were still searching for Maciel -- no word if they've located him yet.
De Lima was 9-3-1 as a pro -- and earned the nickname "Monstro" (which means monster) -- due to his fighting style.
He had two matches in the UFC -- fighting Neil Magny in 2014 and Efrain Escudero in 2015. He lost both of those fights and moved on to another pro fighting organization.
See also
Ex-UFC Fighter Killed In Brazil After Argument with Rideshare Driver
-
Breaking News
- 1.3K shares
A former UFC fighter was hit by a car and killed in Brazil after officials say he got into an argument with his rideshare driver.
The fighter is 26-year-old Rodrigo de Lima -- who fought Neil Magny in 2014 and Efrain Escudero in 2015 during his stint in the UFC. He lost both of those fights.
Rodrigo was a passenger in a car in Belem, Brazil when he got into an argument with the driver. According to reports, the driver stopped the car and booted de Lima from the vehicle.
Once outside the car, the driver allegedly drove away from the scene -- then turned around and struck de Lima from behind, killing the fighter.
There are reports the driver was working for Uber at the time of the incident. We've called Uber to confirm but so far, no word back.
Officials are currently on the hunt for the driver. De Lima is survived by his wife and two young children.
De Lima was 9-3-1 as a pro -- and earned the nickname "Monstro" (which means monster) -- due to his fighting style.
R.I.P.
See also
Justin Bieber Pap Sues for Truck Accident You Ran Me Over, Now Pay Up!!!
4/16 -- Wilson's attorney says they're only suing because settlement talks with Justin's insurance company broke down a couple of months ago when they got a "lowball" offer.
In a statement, the attorney says Wilson suffered a torn meniscus and knee cap damage in the accident and had to undergo arthroscopic surgery.
Justin Bieber's getting sued by the photographer he accidentally drove over as he was leaving a church event.
The accident was pretty brutal to see and hear -- back in 2017, Justin was leaving a worship service in Bev Hills when he pulled away in his 2017 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup. The photog, William Wilson, was no match for the monster truck and went down in a heap.
07/26/17
Wilson is now suing Bieber, claiming the singer was negligent in the way he pulled out into the street. In docs, obtained by TMZ, Wilson says he suffered "permanent disability, emotional damages and general damages."
He doesn't specify his injuries, but at the time ... Wilson posted a video from his hospital bed.
You might recall, Justin immediately pulled over and tried to assist Wilson. He also stayed on the scene until police arrived to take a report. Police eventually decided not to pursue any criminal charges against Bieber ... and chalked it all up to an accident, partially caused by camera flashes blinding Justin.
Cops also said the photog shouldn't have been standing in the street.
Wilson's suing Justin for unspecified damages. We've reached out to Justin's camp ... but no word back yet.
Originally Published -- 4/15 3:33 PM PT
See also
Michael Madsen Arrested for DUI Smashed SUV into Pole!!!
-
EXCLUSIVE
- 433 shares
Michael Madsen is behind bars ... after wrecking his Land Rover in Malibu, he got arrested for driving under the influence.
The veteran actor of Quentin Tarantino flicks like 'Kill Bill,' 'Hateful Eight' and "Reservoir Dogs" got into a single-car crash, hitting a pole, Sunday around 8 PM ... according to law enforcement sources. We're told the L.A. County Sheriff's Department deputies responded and, when they arrived, immediately suspected Madsen had been boozing.
We're told Madsen smelled of alcohol, so he was given a field sobriety test and, according to law enforcement, it didn't go well -- his BAC was .10.
The legal limit is .08, so Madsen was arrested for misdemeanor DUI. His bail has been set at $15k.
Madsen was also busted for DUI in Malibu back in 2012, when his BAC was twice the legal limit. He entered a 30-day rehab after that arrest, and the judge also ordered him to get outpatient treatment.
See also
Pro Motorcycle Racers Suspended Over Insane Brawl
-
Breaking News
- 1.5K shares
WHOAAA!!!!!
Two pro motorcycle racers just got hit with 2-year suspensions over one of the CRAZIEST fights we've ever seen on a race track!!
It all went down at the National Motorbike Championship in February in Costa Rica -- where racer Marion Calvo got pissed after Jorge Martinez bumped him during the race and caused him to lose control of his bike.
Somehow, Martinez clung to Calvo's bike and forced Calvo to pull over, while Martinez was hanging off the back of his opponent's bike.
When the bike finally came to a stop, Martinez reached back and threw a HAYMAKER shot right at Calvo's face -- knocking the racer on his ass!!
But, kudos to Calvo ... who got up ... and ran back after Martinez, trying to continue the fight ON THE TRACK while other racers zoomed by.
Eventually, things broke up ... but wow. Insane.
Both racers were disqualified on the spot -- but now the Latin American Motorcycle Association has doled out the bigger punishment -- and it's 2-year suspensions for both fighters.
Too bad ... we wanna see the rematch!!!!
See also
'Glee' Actor Jesse Luken Charged with DUI
-
EXCLUSIVE
- 474 shares
"Glee" actor Jesse Luken has officially been charged with DUI ... nearly 3 months after he was arrested.
The L.A. County D.A.'s Office charged Jesse with 1 misdemeanor count of DUI and 1 misdemeanor count of driving with a .08 blood alcohol content. His arraignment's been set for next month in Glendale.
TMZ broke the story ... Jesse was busted last December after cops said his Toyota was found on a curb with the airbag deployed. His right front tire was mangled but no other cars were involved. We were told Jesse was in the driver's seat and he reeked of booze. Cops say he bombed the field sobriety test.
If convicted, Jesse -- who played the dirty blonde jock, Bobby 'Boom Boom' Surette, on the hit show -- will almost certainly get the usual punishment ... probation and a mandatory alcohol ed program.
"Glee" cast members have had more than their share of woes. Mark Salling committed suicide while awaiting sentencing in his child porn case. Cory Monteith died of a drug overdose. And, Naya Rivera was busted for domestic violence.
See also
Jim Boeheim Speeding Before Fatal Accident ... Cops Say
Cops now say Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim WAS speeding before he struck and killed a man on a NY highway last month ... but believe his speed was not a factor in the fatal crash.
According to officials ... Boeheim was going 66 mph in a 55 mph zone just 5 seconds before he hit Jorge Jimenez in Syracuse, NY around 11 PM on Feb. 20.
Jorge was taken to the hospital and later died from the injuries he suffered.
Investigators say 74-year-old Boeheim attempted to hit the brakes before slamming into Jimenez -- but couldn't avoid the collision ... only slowing to 54 mph at the moment of impact.
But, even if Boeheim was driving the speed limit, he wouldn't have been able to avoid Jimenez, cops say ... citing 2 main factors for the crash, including poor decision-making by the victim.
1) Jimenez was in a previous crash and his unlit Dodge Charger was blocking 2 lanes of traffic on a night with poor visibility due to extreme darkness.
2) Jimenez was walking on the highway after his crash in dark clothing for a prolonged period of time after being aware of oncoming vehicles on the road.
Prosecutors say they COULD have hit Boeheim with a speeding charge -- but decided not to move forward because, ultimately, this was a "tragic accident."
Boeheim has coached in every Syracuse game since the accident ... but the team has gone just 1-3 in that time frame.
Syracuse closes out its regular season with a game at Clemson on Saturday.
See also
UFC's Matt Hughes Denies Violent Allegations ... Says Train Crash Changed Him
-
Breaking News
- 361 shares
UFC legend Matt Hughes is adamant he NEVER physically abused his wife and nephew -- and claims they're all making up false allegations to drive him out of their lives.
Long story short ... Hughes says he's "not the same person" since his accident -- when a train slammed into his truck in 2017, resulting in a serious brain injury.
"Since my train accident in June of 2017, my life has been changed forever. Some days have been absolute hell," Hughes says.
"The challenges and battles that I have faced have been far greater than anything I ever took on in a cage ... everyday I continue to try to be as normal as someone with a brain injury can be."
TMZ Sports broke the story ... Matt's wife and nephew both obtained restraining orders against him, claiming he's gotten violent and they're scared for their safety.
In fact, Matt's wife claims he attacked her on multiple occasions and threatened to shoot her.
Matt responded to those allegations in a statement posted to social media -- saying the accusations are false.
"Unfortunately, my marriage was not perfect long before the accident, but NEVER, NEVER, NEVER would I, or have I, physically hurt those who I care about most."
"I do not resent those who are trying to hurt me and paint me out to be a monster through these false accusations."
Matt says he also believes his family members are trying to rid him from their lives because he's become a burden due to his brain injury.