Accused truck driver who crash into comedian actor Tracy Morgan's limo van has pleaded not guilty on Monday from the charges of aggravated manslaughter and other charges. The accident critically injured the comedian actor and killed one of his co-comedian friends.
Kevin Roper, 36 years old was working in Wal-Mart and driving a truck in June 2014 crash in Cranbury, New Jersey Turnpike, according to NJcom. David Glassman, Roper's defense lawyer will file a motion in the coming weeks in order to dismiss the charges against his client. In December, Roper was indicted by the County Grand jury in Middlesex on the charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and eight counts of aggravated assault.
The car crash accident left another comedian friend of Morgan, James McNair dead. The comedian actor was critically injured, suffering with brain trauma, broken ribs and legs, according to 6ABC. The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation in August also said, they concluded that Roper did not get enough sleep in the previous hours before the accident happened. Reports also showed that Roper failed to slow down his truck right away even though the turnpike signs flashes warning.
The truck ran into the back side of Morgan's 2012 Mercedes Benz limo van and flipped over. Daily Mail reported, the crash impact cause a series of reaction involving four other vehicles, including another tractor-trailer. Morgan's van also carries Jimmy McNair and other friends of Morgan down the New Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury. Other fellow comedians Ardie Fuqua, Harris Stanton and Morgan's assistant Jeff Millea were also injured.
Glassman, Roper's attorney, previously told Associated Press that the NTSB did not have all of the facts when it announced its findings. Morgan and the others sued Wal-Mart. The company settled the suit for an undisclosed sum. The motion to dismiss the charges, before Superior Court Judge Michael Toto, will likely be heard in April.
