Tracy Morgan 'More Responsive' Day After Crash, Rep Says
Truck driver charged with causing crash that killed 1, injured 4.
June 8, 2014— -- Comedian Tracy Morgan was "more responsive" today, the comedian's rep said, one day after the limousine bus he was riding in was involved in a fatal multi-car crash on the New Jersey Turnpike.
The crash early Saturday killed one man on the limo bus and injured four others, including Morgan, 45.
"While Tracy remains in critical condition, he has been more responsive today, which is an incredibly encouraging sign," his rep Lewis Kay said.
Morgan suffered a broken leg, a broken femur, a broken nose and several broken ribs, among other injuries, Kay said.
"He had surgery earlier today on his leg," the rep said. "We expect him to remain in the hospital for several weeks. His family is tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans."
The driver of the limo bus said that after the crash her heard Morgan screaming.
"I climbed around and heard Tracy screaming for help," said his driver, Tyrone Gale. "I climbed up on the body of the limo bus ... but I couldn't reach them."
N.J. State Police said they believed a truck driver was dozing and didn't see traffic slowing in front of his 18-wheeler until it was too late, crashing into the vehicle carrying comedian Morgan and his entourage.
"I just remember the impact. ... We didn't know which way was up, which way was down. I don't know if we flipped several times or one time," Gale said. "I saw the condition of everybody and I knew it would just make it worse if I tried to pull them up and out of the vehicle."
Morgan and Entourage Latest Victims of "The Black Dragon"
The Walmart truck driver, Kevin Roper, 35, of Jonesboro, Ga., was charged with one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto. He surrendered Saturday night and was released on $50,000 bail, according to N.J. State Police.
"The facts are continuing to unfold. If it's determined that our truck caused the accident, Walmart will take full responsibility," Walmart U.S. President and CEO Bill Simon said in a statement
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1 Killed, 4 Injured in Crash
James McNair, a passenger on board the limo bus with Morgan, was killed in the crash, police said. He was comedy writer for Morgan.
Morgan, his assistant, Jeff Millea, and Ardie Fuqua were listed in critical condition, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital spokesman Peter Haigney told ABC station WABC-TV. Harris Stanton, another comedian, was treated and released.
Morgan's rep, Lewis Kay, said the comedian's family was with him and "he is receiving excellent care."
The group was returning from a performance of his "Turn it Funny" tour in Dover, Del., Friday night.
"A great show in Dover, a lot of excitement going home," Gale said. "Tracy was holding his baby before we left and he said, 'I'm holding my princess.'"
The Chain Reaction Crash
The six-vehicle crash happened in the northbound lanes at mile marker 71.5 about 1 a.m. Saturday, according to N.J. State Police.
The crash was a chain reaction caused by the first truck, a Peterbilt with Oklahoma plates, New Jersey State Police Sgt. First Class Gregory Williams said.
When the driver of the truck suddenly became aware of the Mercedes Sprinter limo bus in front of him, he swerved left to avoid it, but struck the limo bus in the rear and then hit another vehicle, Williams said.
The limo bus carrying Morgan lost control and began rotating clockwise and then turned over onto its left side. While it was out of control, the limo bus hit a Buick, which crashed into a Ford F150 pickup truck. The limo also hit another tractor-trailer.
The truck that caused the crash came to rest on the left shoulder after hitting a guardrail.
National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Keith Holloway told ABC News that the NTSB was dispatching a team to investigate the crash along with the N.J. State Police.
The NTSB was going to focus on the "broad issues concerning commercial traffic safety," Holloway said.
Morgan has four children, including a daughter to whom his fiancee Megan Wollover gave birth last July.
