Grand Jury indicts truck driver responsible in Tracy Morgan’s 2014 car crash
December 23, 2015 Matt News, Tracy Morgan
Today a New Jersey grand jury on Wednesday indicted the truck driver who crashed into a limo van carrying Tracy Morgan, resulting in the death of James “Jimmy Mack” McNair while severely injuring Morgan and members of his entourage.
Kevin Roper, the driver of the Wal-Mart tractor trailer that crashed into Morgan’s limo bus, was charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide, and third-degree aggravated assault charges from the 2014 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike. Roper’s attorney attempted to have the charges of vehicular homicide and assault by auto thrown out, arguing that Wal-Mart’s settlement of Morgan’s lawsuit generated publicity that harmed driver’s chance for a fair trial.
This past August, investigation by the NTSB concluded that Roper hadn’t slept for 28 hours at the time of the crash. Something that was disputed by Roper’s lawyers. The investigation also concluded that Roper did not slow down before the crash, despite warning signs on the turpnike. The NTSB also faulted Morgan and his entourage for not wearing their seat belts, stating that they could’ve seriously helped reduce the injuries sustained by the group.