Posted Dec 4th 2009 5:49PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw was involved in a 3-car accident in New York today around 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
Brokaw was in his car with his wife. A woman in one of the other cars died when she was thrown from her SUV.
Brokaw and his wife, Meredith, are OK.
The Brokaws just released the following statement:
"Tom and Meredith Brokaw, at around 1 p.m. today, were in a three vehicle accident on the Bruckner Expressway. The Brokaws were in the far left lane when they noticed a spool of cable bouncing along the far right lane.
Just then, a green SUV in the right lane came up fast and tried to avoid the cable. The driver lost control of her vehicle and slid into the middle lane, forcing a mail truck into the Brokaw lane of traffic. As the mail truck careened into the Brokaw lane, Tom hit the brakes hard and skidded along the median. When the mail truck catapulted the median the Brokaw vehicle slid into it.
Neither Tom nor Meredith were injured but tragically the driver of the SUV was thrown from her vehicle and killed. Tom and Meredith are greatly saddened by this loss of life."
UPDATE: The victim has been identified as a 28-year-old woman, who worked near the scene of the accident. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.
UPDATE 6:05 PM EST: The FDNY just released more information about the accident, explaining, "the vehicles collided & [the SUV driver] went off the highway & to the ground below ... Another male went to a local hospital in serious condition- private ambulance transported him."
Filed under: Tom Brokaw
Posted Dec 4th 2009 5:25PM by TMZ Staff
"Jersey Shore" isn't just offensive to Italian people, it's also offensive to Italian food makers -- and now Domino's Pizza wants their ads pulled from the MTV show ASAP.
Domino's just delivered a major blow to the reality show, instructing their media buyers to pull all Domino's commercials from future episodes.
A rep for the pizza giant tells TMZ, "The content of this particular program is not right for Domino's Pizza."
The announcement could mean a huge advertising opportunity for anyone selling hair gel, vodka, self-tanning products, steroids, hair-removal products, eye-liner, more hair gel, breast enhancements, cologne, energy drinks, Affliction t-shirts, fake nails and even more hair gel.
Filed under: TV, Exclusives, Jersey Shore
Posted Dec 4th 2009 5:00PM by TMZ Staff
Katt Williams did not have a shotgun on his person when police arrived at a Georgia Walmart earlier today, this according to the Newnan Police Department.
Newnan Deputy Police Chief Rodney Riggs tells TMZ Katt was handcuffed, put in the back of a police car and questioned about an alleged altercation in the Walmart parking lot -- but Riggs says Williams was released at the scene and never officially booked.
Police received a 911 call from a man who claims Katt or somebody in his crew had pulled out a shotgun during the incident -- but cops say they found no evidence that a gun was used during the incident. However, when asked if they found a gun on the scene, police would not comment.
Riggs did confirm that two people -- a woman and her son -- involved in the incident were booked for disorderly conduct.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Dec 4th 2009 4:45PM by TMZ Staff
A rep from the WWE tells TMZ their former superstar wrestler Umaga has died.
Umaga, whose real name was Eddie Fatu, was 36 years old.
The WWE has released a statement on their website saying, "The WWE would like to express its deepest condolences to Mr. Fatu's family, friends and fans on his tragic passing."
Filed under: R.I.P., TMZ Sports
Posted Dec 4th 2009 4:43PM by TMZ Staff
Someone involved in the Katt Williams incident earlier today pulled out a shotgun at the Georgia Walmart where Katt was arrested, this according to one of the people who called 911.
About 3 minutes into the call, which came in at 2:17 PM local time, a man tells the 911 operator, "We're having a problem with Katt Williams ... and we need someone to come out here now."
The caller then explains, "They pulled out a shotgun and stuff like this."
The operator replied, "He pulled out a shotgun?"
The caller responds, "Yes Ma'am."
As TMZ first reported, Williams along with several other men from his "entourage" were arrested in the Walmart parking lot and transported to a local jail.
So far, no word on what charges, if any, Williams is facing.
UPDATE: After cops arrived, we're told someone at the scene complained of chest pains and was transported to a local hospital.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives
Posted Dec 4th 2009 4:26PM by TMZ Staff
Katt Wiliams is becoming really familiar with the Coweta County penal system. Dude was arrested earlier this week for "a bond issue."
Williams was arrested late Wednesday afternoon in Newnan, Georgia -- details surrounding the arrest are sketchy, but Katt posed for two mug shots at 6:54 PM that evening.
As we first reported, Katt was involved in an incident at a Newnan Walmart earlier today ... stay tuned.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives
Posted Dec 4th 2009 4:15PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned former WWE wrestler Umaga is being treated at a Houston medical center -- and according to several reports, he's in really bad shape.
36-year-old Umaga -- whose real name is Eddie Fatu -- recently returned from Australia where he appeared in Hulk Hogan's "Hulkamania" wrestling tour-- which wrapped in late November.
Story developing...
Filed under: TMZ Sports, Nurse!
Posted Dec 4th 2009 3:52PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned comedian Katt Williams was arrested moments ago in Georgia -- and is currently being transported to a Coweta County jail.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ that Katt and "several" members of his "entourage" were involved in some sort of incident just a few hours ago.
Several sources tell TMZ Williams was arrested in the parking lot of a local Walmart after an incident involving another "crew."
We're told six squad cars were called to the scene and cops rounded up roughly a dozen men -- including Williams.
No word on what he's being booked for yet.
Story developing...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives
Posted Dec 4th 2009 3:30PM by TMZ Staff
Meg Ryan, 48, and Cheryl Hines, 44, attempted to smile their way through the same event in NYC on Thursday.
Question is ...
Filed under: Who'd You Rather?
Posted Dec 4th 2009 3:12PM by TMZ Staff
LeAnn Rimes -- no stranger to ramming into things she's not supposed to -- was at it again today ... but this time the victim was an un-married golf cart.
According to witnesses at the scene, LeAnn was backing out of a parking spot at The Commons shopping center today in Calabasas, CA when she collided with a security golf cart.
We're not sure who was at fault -- but we do know there were no injuries and the matter was taken care of privately.
Filed under: Ride Me, Exclusives
Posted Dec 4th 2009 2:20PM by TMZ Staff
MTV told Italian American groups to hold judgment on the new reality show "Jersey Shore" until they saw an episode ... well, the wait is over -- and the outrage flood gates have blown wide open.
After last night's debut episode of the reality show, UNICO National -- the "Largest Italian American Service Organization in the USA" -- claims they "can't keep up with the volume of calls" from "outraged" Italian Americans.
TMZ spoke with a rep from the group who told us, "I suffered through all 120 mins of that show and it was worse than I imagined."
The rep added, "Italian Americans are OUTRAGED and they are helping us reach out to sponsors to ask them to stop advertising with MTV until they agree to pull Jersey Shore."
For those unfamiliar with the show -- imagine "The Hills" on steroids, dipped in bronzer, and slathered in hair gel ... only more addicting.
Filed under: TV, Exclusives, Jersey Shore
Posted Dec 4th 2009 2:03PM by TMZ Staff
Finally, a sign of activity outside Tiger Woods' home -- but not the one where he wrecked his SUV.
TMZ has obtained a photo of Tiger's other home in the Windermere development near Orlando, Florida -- right around the corner from Tiger's main home -- and as of yesterday, there are two new vehicles of interest parked in front of house #2 .... a red Buick and a baby stroller.
FYI -- Tiger and Elin have a 9-month-old son together.
It's unclear whose vehicle is in front of the house -- or who, if anyone, is staying in house #2 -- but it's the first hint of movement from Tiger since the initial incident last Friday.
Filed under: TMZ Sports, Exclusives, Tiger Woods
Posted Dec 4th 2009 1:46PM by TMZ Staff
While on the set of her latest video outside L.A. the other day, Rihanna wore her favorite Mickey Mouse ears helmet and unknowingly flashed one of her weapons.
RiR's bullet bra proved she's armed and scandalous.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Hot Bodies, Rihanna
