After a horrific six-vehicle accident this past Saturday, June 7, which placed comedian, Tracy Morgan, in intensive care, injured several others, and killed fellow comedian and friend to Morgan, James McNair, reports reveal more about the truck driver who was at the root of the accident.
According to police reports, the accident was caused by a truck driver for Walmart who was dozing off to sleep and failed to see the slowing traffic. The driver, identified as Kevin Roper, 36, of Georgia, was charged with one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto. He was released on $50,000 bail on Saturday night.
According to a report by Gothamist, the criminal complaint now has new details about the truck driver’s condition at the time of the accident – he hadn’t slept for a day. The Star Ledger reports that the National Transportation Safety Board investigated the crash. Spokesman, Keith Holloway, said a team of investigators was sent to the scene of the fatal crash to assess what had happened.
Holloway states: “If we can take that information and can use it to prevent accidents like this from happening, that will help us achieve our goal.”
Walmart’s President, Bill Simon, released a statement on the matter: “This is a tragedy and we are profoundly sorry that one of our trucks was involved… Safety is our absolute highest priority, but that is no comfort whatsoever to the families and friends who are suffering today. We offer them our deepest condolences. We can’t change what happened, but we will do what’s right for the family of the victim and the survivors in the days and weeks ahead.”
The former SNL and 30 Rock comedian is said to have broken his leg, femur, nose, and several ribs, and required extensive surgery. The star remains in critical condition and is expected to remain in the hospital for a few weeks to recover.
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