Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan has filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart over a June 7 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike that left him seriously injured and another man dead after one of the company’s trucks struck his limo van, the New York Post reports. Four others were also injured in the crash.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, says Wal-Mart is responsible for the accident, charging that the company should have known that its driver, Kevin Roper, 35, had been “awake for more than 24 consecutive hours” before the accident, the report says.
The 45-year-old 30 Rock star and three other plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and statutory damages, punitive damages and legal fees, the report says.
“Walmart was careless and negligent in the ownership and operation of its motor vehicle, which caused Mr. Morgan to suffer severe personal injuries,” the complaint states, according to the Post. “As a direct and proximate result of said collision, Mr. Morgan was caused to sustain severe painful bodily injuries, including but not limited to multiple fractures which required multiple surgeries, extensive medical treatment and will require significant physical rehabilitation.”
Roper reportedly was driving 65 mph in a 45 mph zone when the accident occurred. Further, he was nearing the company’s limit of 14 hours on the clock and had been driving for nine hours and 37 minutes straight, investigators concluded, the report says.
Morgan’s friend and fellow comedian James McNair, 63, died in the crash. Morgan was listed in critical condition with several broken ribs and a broken leg before he was moved to a rehabilitation facility in June.
Read more at the New York Post.