UPDATE as of 9:09 AM EST: While Kevin Hart is “going to be just fine,” as his wife, Eniko Parrish, recently said, the Philly native will require a lengthy physical therapy program to recover from a car crash in Los Angeles early on Sunday morning.
Hart’s physical rehabilitation will last for weeks, TMZ reports, and comes following what doctors said was a successful back surgery on Sunday night. The comic actor will also reportedly have a substantial schedule of follow-up appointments with doctors.
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Comedian and actor Kevin Hart along with two others were involved in a horrible car crash in California early Sunday, according to an on-site report by TMZ.
Hart and the driver, Jared Black, sustained “major back injuries” and were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment over the holiday weekend. The accident happened just before…
… 1 AM Sunday on the winding and treacherous Mulholland Highway.
Hart was gearing up to spend some quality time at home this Labor Day weekend. “Being home makes me happy….enjoy your weekend people!!!! #LiveLoveLaugh,” Hart wrote on Instagram just hours before the accident.
Black was driving Hart’s 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, according to the report, when he lost control of the vehicle. It went off the road and rolled down an embankment. Hart bought the Plymouth back in July as a 40th birthday gift to himself.
Two of the three occupants were trapped in the vehicle. Hart left the scene to his nearby residence to get medical attention, the report states.
Patrol officers determined that Black was not under the influence of alcohol at the time but…
…the collision still has people wondering. The third occupant did not suffer any substantial injuries.
As of Sunday afternoon, police tell TMZ the driver of the car was found pinned in his seat under the crushed roof and so was the female passenger. The fire department had to literally saw off the roof to free them.
The driver was airlifted across town to UCLA Medical Center. TMZ reported that the car smashed through wooden fencing along the roadside and that the roof of the vehicle was crushed.
Hart’s frequent movie co-star, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, was one of many sending well wishes to the comedian.
“Stop messing with my emotions brother @kevinhart4real,” he wrote on Instagram. “We have a lot more laughing to do together. Love you man. Stay strong.”
Bryan Cranston of “Breakin’ Bad” fame, who also co-starred with Hart in “The Upside,” asked everyone to “send him positive energy and healing thoughts.”
We have not heard from doctors yet about Hart’s road to recovery, but many are expecting it to be long.
For more serious back injuries like Kevin’s, such as a herniated or ruptured disk or a pinched nerve, surgery may be necessary.
But, surprisingly, most disk injuries heal themselves without surgery. The only reason to have emergency back surgery is when the pain is accompanied by severe or progressive motor weakness or involves bowel or bladder problems. In these cases, it’s crucial to relieve pressure from the nerves in order to retain their function.
If your pain is severe and persistent, your doctor may suggest diagnostic tests, such as an MRI or CT scan.
If somebody has to have surgery like Kevin, their recovery regimen begins with wound healing, which takes about…
… two weeks. During that time, you need to be careful. After that, ask your doctor about beginning a progressive walking program to promote muscle strength.
Walk short distances initially and make sure you don’t walk so far you can’t get home safely if you get tired. As your strength increases, your physician or physical therapist will suggest you supplement your walks with gentle back exercises.
Talk to your doctor if intense pain recurs. When a disk is removed, pieces of it may remain in the back and cause problems. For the first couple of months after surgery, it’s important not to lift, twist or bend, all of which could re-injure your back.
The best predictor for future back pain is previous back pain — so once you’re on the road to recovery, the best way to ensure a healthy back is to approach activity sensibly.
On a more serious note, Johnson said that Hart is “doing very well” and is “bummed” he couldn’t be there with Clarkson.
“I love the guy, he’s one of my best friends,” Johnson said. “And honestly, I mean, thank God, it could’ve been… a lot worse. So, he’s a lucky man, and he knows it too. I wish him the best and a speedy recovery and I’m gonna see him soon.”
Take a look at the video above to see Johnson give an update on Hart!
Other reports are coming in about Kevin actually doing better than people assume. Fellow comedian Tiffany Hadish says…
“He’s already walking. He’s good,” Hadish told Entertainment Tonight.
Sources told TMZ that while Hart is back on his feet, he is still in pain from the accident.