Tracy Morgan Car Accident: Wal-Mart Driver Pleads Not Guilty; Trial Publicity Harms Fairness?
The truck driver implicated in a car accident that temporary left funnyman Tracy Morgan in critical condition and his friend James McNair dead has pleaded not guilty last Monday to charges of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated assault, E! Online reported.
Eonline said Monday that Kevin Roper, a truck driver for Wal-Mart in 2014, is set to file a motion to dismiss the case.
In a Billboard report, counsel for Roper David Glassman was quoted as saying that the publicity being generated by the trial "harmed" Roper's chances for a fair trial.
Roper is facing charges of "vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter and eight counts of aggravated assault," the online portal added. Tracy Morgan, according to Billboard, "suffered brain trauma, broken ribs and a broken leg" due to the car accident.
According to court documents, Roper was making his way through the New Jersey Turnpike when he suddenly crashed into a limousine carrying the "SNL" actor, McNair and four others. The passengers spent time in the hospital for serious injuries.
The victims then reportedly sued Wal-Mart, with the case settled via an unspecified amount.
Eonline cited a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report that said that Roper had spent at least 13 hours without rest before the accident, while another investigation showed that he had not rested for at least 24 hours.
Tracy Morgan has since recovered from the car accident and promised his audience he would not stop doing comedy. He appeared for the first time after his accident in an interview with the TODAY show last year.
It was also in 2015 that he performed stand-up comedy for the first time since the accident.
During a surprise appearance at last year's Emmy Awards, Morgan was given a standing ovation.
"I love comedy. I love comedy. I will never stop loving her. I'll get back to making you laugh. I promise you," Morgan was quoted as saying.
