Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jul 12, 2014 8:09:29 GMT -6
www.deadline.com/2014/07/report-30-rock-star-tracy-morgan-critical-after-multi-car-crash-2/
Tracy Morgan is suing Wal-Mart over the June 7 crash in which the limo bus he and others were riding was rear-ended by one of the retail giant’s tractor-trailers. The complaint filed in New Jersey District Court alleges that Wal-Mart knew or should have known that the truck’s driver, Kevin Roper, had been awake for more than 24 hours when he fell asleep behind the wheel and rammed into the limo. It also says the truck’s collision-avoidance systems did not engage and that “Wal-Mart knew or should have known that one of the truck’s most important safety features had been compromised.” The former 30 Rock star was critically injured in the New Jersey Turnpike wreck, which killed his mentor, comedian James McNair. McNair’s widow Krista Millea also is a defendant along with Morgan’s assistant Jeffrey Millea and comic Ardie Fuqua Jr, both of whom were injured in the crash. The suit reads, “As a direct and proximate result of the physical injuries sustained by Mr. Morgan in the collision, he has been in capacitated from pursuing his usual employment and other activities, may be left with disabilities that will in the future similarly incapacitate him and cause him pain and suffering, and may require medical treatment.” The suit seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial. David Sirotkin, Benedict Morelli and David Ratner of Morelli Alters Ratner LLP in New York are representing the plaintiffs.
7TH UPDATE, June 20: Tracy Morgan has been transferred to an undisclosed rehab center, where he is expected to remain for the next few weeks, according to a rep today. The rep said the actor-comedian is continuing to show signs of improvement, though he still has a long way to go. Morgan has been at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick, NJ, since the early morning of June 7, when his limo bus was struck by a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike, killing fellow comedian and mentor James McNair. Morgan was upgraded from critical to fair condition earlier this week.
6TH UPDATE, MONDAY PM: Actor-comedian Tracy Morgan’s condition has now been upgraded to “fair,” as he continues to recover from injuries received in a multi-car collision June 7 that killed one of his friends and seriously injured several others while they were returning from a performance. Morgan associate Jeffrey Millea also has been upgraded to fair condition, according to what family members told the rep, Lewis Kay. He noted that Morgan’s “personality is certainly starting to come back as well.”
5TH UPDATE, June 12 PM: 30 Rock and SNL veteran Tracy Morgan is in critical but stable condition five days after the fatal New Jersey car crash that injured Morgan and three others and killed mentor James McNair. Comedian Ardie Fuqua, Jeffrey Millea and Harris Stanton were the other limo bus passengers hospitalized after the crash. “Today was a better day. While Tracy remains in critical, but stable, condition, he continues to show signs of improvement,” said Morgan’s rep. “His medical team remains optimistic that his recovery is progressing. Megan remains by his side and is relaying the countless good wishes and prayers that his family, friends and fans have been sending their way. In addition, Jeff [Millea]‘s wife asked us to pass along that Jeff has also shown much improvement over the past few days. She is very thankful for the love and support she and their family continue to receive.”
4TH UPDATE, JUNE 9 PM: A spokesperson for the family said Tracy Morgan is still in critical but stable condition at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey following a car crash early Saturday morning that killed Morgan’s mentor and comedy writer James McNair. Morgan had surgery on a broken leg Sunday and is expected to stay in the hospital for weeks; the spokesperson today shot down rumors that that Morgan’s leg was amputated. “The concern for his well-being has been overwhelming, but [Morgan's fiancee] Megan is respectfully asking that the media await official word through these channels before speculating (mostly inaccurately) on his condition,” a statement read, adding, “This recovery will be arduous and we hope that you can be patient during this difficult time.” Morgan also suffered broken ribs, femur and nose. A criminal complaint said tractor-trailer driver Kevin Roper had been awake for more than 24 hours before allegedly causing the crash, which occurred on the New Jersey Turnpike at about 1 AM Saturday; Roper turned himself in Saturday and is out on $50,000 bail.
Today on CNN’s The Lead, Morgan’s former Saturday Night Live co-star Seth Meyers was asked about the accident, telling Jake Tapper, “Certainly sending our thoughts and prayers, everyone on the staff [of Meyers' NBC late-night show]. Tracy was a vet on SNL when I started, always looked out for me…so yeah I’m definitely thinking of him now.”
3RD UPDATE, JUNE 8 PM: Tracy Morgan remains in critical condition but is “more responsive” today, what his representatives termed in a just-released statement as “incredibly encouraging.” Morgan sustained a broken femur, nose and several ribs in the crash that killed James McNair, a comedian and mentor to Morgan. Morgan is expected to undergo surgery later today on the leg and 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 statement reads.
2ND UPDATE, JUNE 7 PM: Truck driver Kevin Roper, 35, of Jonesboro, GA has been charged by Middlesex Country prosecutors with death by auto for setting off the chain reaction crash that has put 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live alum Tracy Morgan in critical condition, and that has killed James McNair, 62, Morgan’s comedic mentor. Roper also faces four counts of assault by auto. Also in the overturned Mercedes limo bus and in critical condition were Morgan’s assistant Jeffrey Millea, 36, and comedian Ardie Fuqua, Jr. Comic Harris Stanton, also in the bus, was treated and released while two others in the limo were unhurt.
UPDATE, JUNE 7 AM: Tracy Morgan‘s spokesperson just released the following statement, confirming the actor is in critical condition after a car crash. Morgan has a 10-episode straight-to-series comedy for FXX, from the It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia creators Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton & Charlie Day and Sunny writer Luvh Rakhe. The series was slated to begin production in New York in August.
Tracy remains in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. He sustained these injuries in an accident that occurred early this morning as one of several passengers in a chauffeured SUV returning from a tour date in Delaware. His family is now with him and he is receiving excellent care. We don’t anticipate much of a change in his condition today but will provide a further update once more information becomes available.
PREVIOUS 3:45 AM: Sad news. CNN and other outlets are reporting this morning that former Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock standout Tracy Morgan is in critical condition after a car wreck in New Jersey early Saturday. Quoting authorities, CNN reports that Morgan was riding in a limo bus which was involved in a crash that included two tractor-trailers and an SUV, where one was killed and four hospitalized. We will update the situation when we know more. UPDATE: Sgt. Gregory Williams of the New Jersey State Police told CNN and other media outlets Morgan’s limo bus overturned at the New Jersey Turnpike in Robbinsville, and that the limo is the only vehicle that overturned, adding, “Looks like one of the tractor-trailers may have rear-ended that limo bus, but that’s preliminary at this time.” The local NBC station reports state police say a preliminary investigation has found that a tractor trailer came up upon slow moving traffic and slammed into the limo and other vehicles, that all of those injured, and the one fatality, were people in the limo.
Tracy Morgan is suing Wal-Mart over the June 7 crash in which the limo bus he and others were riding was rear-ended by one of the retail giant’s tractor-trailers. The complaint filed in New Jersey District Court alleges that Wal-Mart knew or should have known that the truck’s driver, Kevin Roper, had been awake for more than 24 hours when he fell asleep behind the wheel and rammed into the limo. It also says the truck’s collision-avoidance systems did not engage and that “Wal-Mart knew or should have known that one of the truck’s most important safety features had been compromised.” The former 30 Rock star was critically injured in the New Jersey Turnpike wreck, which killed his mentor, comedian James McNair. McNair’s widow Krista Millea also is a defendant along with Morgan’s assistant Jeffrey Millea and comic Ardie Fuqua Jr, both of whom were injured in the crash. The suit reads, “As a direct and proximate result of the physical injuries sustained by Mr. Morgan in the collision, he has been in capacitated from pursuing his usual employment and other activities, may be left with disabilities that will in the future similarly incapacitate him and cause him pain and suffering, and may require medical treatment.” The suit seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial. David Sirotkin, Benedict Morelli and David Ratner of Morelli Alters Ratner LLP in New York are representing the plaintiffs.
7TH UPDATE, June 20: Tracy Morgan has been transferred to an undisclosed rehab center, where he is expected to remain for the next few weeks, according to a rep today. The rep said the actor-comedian is continuing to show signs of improvement, though he still has a long way to go. Morgan has been at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick, NJ, since the early morning of June 7, when his limo bus was struck by a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike, killing fellow comedian and mentor James McNair. Morgan was upgraded from critical to fair condition earlier this week.
6TH UPDATE, MONDAY PM: Actor-comedian Tracy Morgan’s condition has now been upgraded to “fair,” as he continues to recover from injuries received in a multi-car collision June 7 that killed one of his friends and seriously injured several others while they were returning from a performance. Morgan associate Jeffrey Millea also has been upgraded to fair condition, according to what family members told the rep, Lewis Kay. He noted that Morgan’s “personality is certainly starting to come back as well.”
5TH UPDATE, June 12 PM: 30 Rock and SNL veteran Tracy Morgan is in critical but stable condition five days after the fatal New Jersey car crash that injured Morgan and three others and killed mentor James McNair. Comedian Ardie Fuqua, Jeffrey Millea and Harris Stanton were the other limo bus passengers hospitalized after the crash. “Today was a better day. While Tracy remains in critical, but stable, condition, he continues to show signs of improvement,” said Morgan’s rep. “His medical team remains optimistic that his recovery is progressing. Megan remains by his side and is relaying the countless good wishes and prayers that his family, friends and fans have been sending their way. In addition, Jeff [Millea]‘s wife asked us to pass along that Jeff has also shown much improvement over the past few days. She is very thankful for the love and support she and their family continue to receive.”
4TH UPDATE, JUNE 9 PM: A spokesperson for the family said Tracy Morgan is still in critical but stable condition at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey following a car crash early Saturday morning that killed Morgan’s mentor and comedy writer James McNair. Morgan had surgery on a broken leg Sunday and is expected to stay in the hospital for weeks; the spokesperson today shot down rumors that that Morgan’s leg was amputated. “The concern for his well-being has been overwhelming, but [Morgan's fiancee] Megan is respectfully asking that the media await official word through these channels before speculating (mostly inaccurately) on his condition,” a statement read, adding, “This recovery will be arduous and we hope that you can be patient during this difficult time.” Morgan also suffered broken ribs, femur and nose. A criminal complaint said tractor-trailer driver Kevin Roper had been awake for more than 24 hours before allegedly causing the crash, which occurred on the New Jersey Turnpike at about 1 AM Saturday; Roper turned himself in Saturday and is out on $50,000 bail.
Today on CNN’s The Lead, Morgan’s former Saturday Night Live co-star Seth Meyers was asked about the accident, telling Jake Tapper, “Certainly sending our thoughts and prayers, everyone on the staff [of Meyers' NBC late-night show]. Tracy was a vet on SNL when I started, always looked out for me…so yeah I’m definitely thinking of him now.”
3RD UPDATE, JUNE 8 PM: Tracy Morgan remains in critical condition but is “more responsive” today, what his representatives termed in a just-released statement as “incredibly encouraging.” Morgan sustained a broken femur, nose and several ribs in the crash that killed James McNair, a comedian and mentor to Morgan. Morgan is expected to undergo surgery later today on the leg and 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 statement reads.
2ND UPDATE, JUNE 7 PM: Truck driver Kevin Roper, 35, of Jonesboro, GA has been charged by Middlesex Country prosecutors with death by auto for setting off the chain reaction crash that has put 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live alum Tracy Morgan in critical condition, and that has killed James McNair, 62, Morgan’s comedic mentor. Roper also faces four counts of assault by auto. Also in the overturned Mercedes limo bus and in critical condition were Morgan’s assistant Jeffrey Millea, 36, and comedian Ardie Fuqua, Jr. Comic Harris Stanton, also in the bus, was treated and released while two others in the limo were unhurt.
UPDATE, JUNE 7 AM: Tracy Morgan‘s spokesperson just released the following statement, confirming the actor is in critical condition after a car crash. Morgan has a 10-episode straight-to-series comedy for FXX, from the It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia creators Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton & Charlie Day and Sunny writer Luvh Rakhe. The series was slated to begin production in New York in August.
Tracy remains in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. He sustained these injuries in an accident that occurred early this morning as one of several passengers in a chauffeured SUV returning from a tour date in Delaware. His family is now with him and he is receiving excellent care. We don’t anticipate much of a change in his condition today but will provide a further update once more information becomes available.
PREVIOUS 3:45 AM: Sad news. CNN and other outlets are reporting this morning that former Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock standout Tracy Morgan is in critical condition after a car wreck in New Jersey early Saturday. Quoting authorities, CNN reports that Morgan was riding in a limo bus which was involved in a crash that included two tractor-trailers and an SUV, where one was killed and four hospitalized. We will update the situation when we know more. UPDATE: Sgt. Gregory Williams of the New Jersey State Police told CNN and other media outlets Morgan’s limo bus overturned at the New Jersey Turnpike in Robbinsville, and that the limo is the only vehicle that overturned, adding, “Looks like one of the tractor-trailers may have rear-ended that limo bus, but that’s preliminary at this time.” The local NBC station reports state police say a preliminary investigation has found that a tractor trailer came up upon slow moving traffic and slammed into the limo and other vehicles, that all of those injured, and the one fatality, were people in the limo.