More details of the plane crash involving Travis Barker and DJ AM are coming out, and although the men were fortunate to have survived, they have a long road to recovery ahead.

According to a friend, both men suffered from second and third degree burns - but Adam’s were the most severe. He is in an incubator to keep him in a sterile environment.

“[DJ AM] is really, really badly burned - his face is very burned. More than 50 percent of his body is burned and the worst is on his face.  [Barker was burned] mostly from the waist down.”

Before takeoff Adam emailed a friend a photo of himself standing in front of the plane.

Here’s what officials know about the crash so far:

Federal officials say the doomed crew of a Learjet that crashed in South Carolina thought a tire on the plane blew as they started down the runway.

National Transportation Safety Board member Debbie Hersman said Sunday that crew members told air traffic controllers they heard a tire burst and tried to abort the takeoff Friday night.

Hersman says the conversation between the plane’s crew and the air traffic controllers is captured on a cockpit voice recorderthat was recovered from the wreckage. She says the cause of the crash is being investigated.

The Learjet crashed through a fence and shot over a highway before stopping on an embankment.

As the plane was departing, air traffic controllers reported seeing sparks, officials said. The plane hurtled off the end of a runway and came to rest a quarter-mile away on an embankment across a five-lane highway, engulfed in flames.

One witness said he was driving when a fireball streaked across the highway about 600 feet ahead of him. William Owens said he approached to see the two survivors frantically trying to remove their burning clothes.

“I noticed two guys who were on fire and it looked like a dance: They didn’t know what to do,” said Owens, a 60-year-old delivery van driver.

Goldstein had stripped off his own shirt and was helping Barker strip naked, said Owens, who was able to identify the men Saturday night because of news reports that showed Barker’s extensive tattoos.

Owens said Goldstein told him four other people were on board the jet, but the flames were too intense to get close.

“‘Oh my God’ was all they were saying,” Owens said of Barker and Goldstein. “They stood there and it’s like — didn’t know what to do. None of us did.”

[Associated Press]

Barker’s friend “Lil Chris” Baker died in the crash along with four other people. Baker had just been married and was the father of a newborn baby. “He was the sweetest, nicest guy. He was like Travis’ right-hand man.”

Both Barker and Goldstein are in critical but stable condition at the Joseph Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga. Recovery is expected to take up to one year, but both are expected to fully recover.

Reps from both Barker and Goldstein released the following joint statement,

“Both Travis Barker and Adam Goldstein are in critical but stable condition and are being treated at Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia after surviving a plane crash late last night in Columbia, South Carolina. The hospital will issue a statement with an update on their condition at 9 a.m. eastern time tomorrow.

Due to the nature of the injuries and the evolving course of treatment, no further information on their condition is available at this time.

The accident claimed the lives of four people on board, two of whom, Chris Baker (Lil Chris) and Charles Stills (Che), were close friends of the injured.

On behalf of Travis Barker and DJ AM, deepest sympathy is expressed to the loved ones of all who perished in the crash. As the two recuperate and mourn this loss, privacy for them, their families, and friends is requested at this time.”

This is so terribly sad. My heart goes out to friends and family of all victims.

Horrible news!

Travis Barker, 32, and DJ AM, (Adam Goldstein) 35, were involved in an awful plane crash just after midnight Friday night.

FOUR people died and Travis and Adam were the only survivors!

Barker and Goldstein had performed earlier at a free college concert with Jane’s Addiction front man, Perry Farrell.

The Learjet, bound for Van Nuys, Ca., took off from a Columbia, South Carolina, airport and soon after air traffic controllers saw sparks coming from the plane.

Lynne Douglas, spokesperson for the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, explains,

“The plane crashed on takeoff and went through a fence near Highway 302, then crossed the road and went up an embankment before being filled with flames. There was debris all over the runway. We are closed now and hope to reopen later today.”

Barker was taken to a burn center in Augusta, Georgia.  Both men are in critical but stable condition this morning.

A rep for the burn center stated,

“Both Travis Barker and Adam Goldstein are in critical but stable condition. Goldstein was airlifted here and Barker was brought by ground transportation. So they arrived separately.”

The coroner’s office has released the names of the deceased, they are:

Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, Calif.; co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, Calif.; security guard Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles; and Barker’s assistant Chris Baker, 26, also of Los Angeles.

An investigation into the crash is underway.

A body has been found in the Southern California desert and it’s been confirmed to be that of UFC champion, Evan Tanner.

Tanner, 37, had been missing since last weekend. He was reportedly in the deep desert to seek “treasure hunting and lost gold, and my own insatiable appetite for adventure and exploration.”

A couple weeks ago he blogged,

“I’m hoping that very soon I’ll be sitting out in the quiet of the desert beneath a deep blue midnight sky, listening to the calm desert breeze.  I plan on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of my equipment, could cost me my life.”

Tanner’s motorcycle was discovered at a camp site in Clapp Springs, in the Palo Verde mountains after friends reported him missing last Friday.  His body was discovered in the same area by a Sheriff’s deputy in a plane.  Tanner had failed to respond to text messages since the Wednesday before.

Tanner had overcame alcohol addiction and personal demons to make a comeback earlier this year, although he lost to Kendall Grove in a split decision.

Dr. Dre’s son has been found dead at the age of 20.

He was discovered in his home in Woodland Hills on Saturday morning by his mother.

Around 10 am Saturday morning Andre Young Jr.’s mother went to check on him and found him unresponsive. She immediately called 911.

The cause of death is currently unknown and is pending the toxicology report.

Andre was reportedly out partying the night before and returned home around 5:30AM.

Possible overdose?

Carey Hart’s younger brother, Anthony, died Saturday during a practice run on a racetrack in Connecticut.

He was to race in the Doug Henry’s New England Grand Prix that took place later that evening.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. Anthony Hart, 21, also know simply as ‘Tony’, lost control of his motorcycle, hitting a barrier.

He was accompanied by his father, Tom Hart, as he was airlifted to Hartford Hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Autopsy results confirming the cause for death should be completed today. It is known that Hart suffered extreme head trauma.

The Speedway released the following statement:

“It is with deep regret that the Stafford Motor Speedway announced that, during a practice session rider Anthony Hart, age 21, of Henderson, Nev., succumbed to injuries received while participating in the event. The Speedway extends their condolences to the family and friends of Anthony Hart.”

Carey, who was in Sturgis at the time of the accident, has since flown home to be with family.

This one tears my heart out. I, too, lost a younger brother in an awful accident. Let’s hope Carey and family have the support they need at this very terrible time.

Oh, I am so sad to report this.

Bernie Mac died from pneumonia this morning in a Chicago hospital. He was only 50 years old.

His publicist released the following statement,

“Actor/ comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital. No other details are available at this time. We ask that his family’s privacy continues to be respected.”

It was erroneously reported a few days ago that Mac had died, and at that time his publicist insisted he was in good health. But obviously that wasn’t the case.

Bernie is survived by his wife of 31 years, Rhonda McCullough, daughter Je’Niece and granddaughter Jasmine. He is preceded in death by his mother who died of cancer when Bernie was only 16.

Rest in Peace, sweet man.

_______________________________

What people are saying about Bernie Mac:

George Clooney: “The world just got a little less funny. He will be dearly missed.”

FOX: “Bernie Mac was a gifted talent whose comedy came from an authentic and highly personal place. He was a tremendous live performer and a wonderful actor. FOX was proud to be the home of ‘The Bernie Mac Show,’ and all of us at FOX and 20th Century Fox Television extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Rhonda and daughter JeNiece.”

Niency Nash [Bernie Mac Show]: “My working experiences with Bernie were so amazing, that from that point on, I wouldn’t have cared if he called me in the middle of the night to come and be in a scene where I didn’t have anything to do but sit in the background and eat cereal. I would’ve just done it because I loved him like that. … Bernie Mac was the personification of the word ‘real.’ He kept it real.”

Brad Pitt: “I lament the loss of a ferociously funny and hardcore family man. My thoughts are with [his wife] Rhonda and their family. Bernie Mac, you are already missed.”

Chris Rock: “Bernie Mac was one of the best and funniest comedians to ever live, but that was the second best thing he did. Bernie was one of the greatest friends a person could have. Losing him is like losing 12 people because he absolutely filled up any room he was in. I’m gonna miss the Mac Man.”

Cedric the Entertainer: “It’s hard to put into words just how I feel and what a painful loss this is. Bernie was a brother, a friend and one of the comic masters of our time. Sharing the marquee with him during the phenomenon of the Kings of Comedy tour bonded us like family, and created a unique moment in comic history marking some of the most meaningful, memorable and fun times of our lives. His comedic approach was his own brand and will definitely stand the test of time. The level of his talent always inspired me and other comedians to ‘bring their A-game.’ I promise you that you never wanted to be the guy who had to follow Bernie’s set! As a husband and father, he was THE MAN and my thoughts and prayers are with his family. He will truly be missed, but so well remembered.”

Don Cheadle: “This is a very sad day for many of us who knew and loved Bernie. He brought so much joy to so many. He will be missed, but heaven just got funnier.”

Carl Reiner: “It’s a tremendous loss because of his age and the fact that he was such a vital, original human being. When I use the word ‘original’ I really mean it. He was like no other person I knew. He lived his life to the fullest, even when we were on the set of Ocean’s. He had his own little apartment and he cooked and invited people to lunch every day and he had food that was for everybody. He made very exotic things. His conversations were always different than any conversations I had with anyone else. They were very family-oriented; he talked about his wife and children with such love and it’s very hard to believe that he’s not with us anymore.”

Jenifer Lewis: “Bernie’s style of comedy was bold, courageous and revolutionary—I never knew anyone who loved to be funny as much as Bernie. He will most definitely be very missed.”

Christina Applegate’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Lee Grivas was found dead of a possible heroin overdose last week (July 1) in his Hollywood apartment.

Applegate, 36, is said to be devastated by the loss.

Grivas, 26, was a fisherman, skateboarder and aspiring photographer.

Official cause of death is pending toxicology reports. Rumors are swirling that it may have also been a suicide.

A source close to Grivas told The National Enquirer, “Lee also had a long history of drug problems, dating back to his teen years. Christina broke up with him a number of times because of his struggles with getting clean. She loved him, but couldn’t stand by and watch him ruin his life.”