The Story behind the Fatal Car Accident That Left Tracy Morgan in Critical Condition

Driving 12 hours to work and working another 14 hours behind the wheel is without a doubt a recipe for disaster. Ask Tracy Morgan. 

Morgan was in a fatal car accident back in June 2014. The crash left comedian James McNair dead, and Morgan barely survived with a critical brain injury. 

Sadly, the two comics weren't the only passengers in the limousine when it was rear-ended by a Walmart truck. 

The Fatal Car Crash Tracy Morgan Survived

On June 7, 2014, a limo van carrying McNair and Morgan with five other people was rear-ended by a Walmart truck driven by Kevin Roper shortly before 1 a.m. on the New Jersey Turnpike, CNN reported.

The accident forced McNair to kick the bucket and left four other passengers in the car with severe injuries. 

After a thorough investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board reported that the Walmart driver was driving at a speed of 65 mph in a work zone with a posted 45 mph speed limit. 

The overspeeding, although not the only factor responsible, was what caused the crash, as per the report. 

Had Roper been traveling the posted speed limit of 45 mph rather than 65 mph, and had he braked at the same point, the crash wouldn't have happened, an investigator told the board.

Prior to the crash, Roper drove 800 miles from his residence in Georgia on June 5 to his workplace in Smyrna, Delaware, where he logged in at 11:22 a.m. on June 6.

After working for well over 12 hours, he was making his final delivery for the night when the crash happened at about 12:54 a.m. on June 7. 

Additionally, the victims of the car accident weren't wearing any seatbelts, which only added to the degree of injuries sustained. 

The board said the National Limousine Association should urge limo drivers to give their passengers pre-trip safety briefings and urge them to wear safety restraints.

After the incident, Roper was charged with vehicular homicide and assault by automobile, to which he pleaded not guilty. 

NTSB member Robert Sumwalt had this to say:

Drivers have a professional responsibility to do the right thing. Their professional obligation (is to their company) and the people who share the road with them. This driver abdicated each of those responsibilities.

Tracy Morgan's $2 Million Bugatti Side-swept

More recently, in June 2019, Morgan made headlines for yet another car accident where his brand new two million dollar Bugatti Chiron was side-swept by a Honda CRV W. 42nd St. and 10th Ave. at 1:35 p.m., as per reports from NY Daily News.

Although no one was injured in the fender bender, it is noteworthy that it was Morgan's first time driving his fancy new car. 

Mere minutes before the crash, he had just driven from the dealership on 51st St. and 11th Ave., which was just half a mile away from where he bought the car.

"Thanks for any concern, but I am totally fine," Morgan later tweeted. "My NEW CAR? We shall see. Love you all."

The accident happened three days shy of the five-year anniversary of the horrific New Jersey Turnpike car accident.