NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — A truck driver pleaded not
guilty Wednesday in the fatal New Jersey Turnpike crash that also
injured comedian Tracy Morgan as investigators look into what role his
long commute to work played in the accident.
Wal-Mart driver Kevin
Roper lived in Georgia, but his job was based in Delaware, National
Transportation Safety Board spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said.
A
criminal complaint alleges that the 35-year-old Roper, of Jonesboro,
Georgia, hadn’t slept for more than 24 hours before the accident when he
allegedly swerved to avoid slowed traffic on the turnpike and plowed
into Morgan’s limo on Saturday morning.
Wal-Mart has not explained
what Roper’s driving route was. The company has said it believes he was
in compliance with federal safety regulations.
Roper’s pleaded
not guilty to assault and death by auto charges and his bail was kept at
$50,000. Roper and his attorney, David Glassman, refused to answer
reporters’ questions after the hearing about whether Roper was the
author of tweets from a Twitter account bearing his name and featuring
his picture and calling reports of his not having slept for 24 hours
before the accident "complete BS!"
A conviction on a death by auto
charge carries a five-to-10-year prison sentence. Each assault by auto
charge is punishable by up to 18 months in prison.
The 45-year-old
Morgan suffered a broken femur, a broken nose and several broken ribs.
His friend and fellow comedian James McNair was killed, and two other
passengers were seriously injured. Another passenger was treated and
released from the hospital Saturday, and the limo driver and one more
passenger weren’t injured.
Morgan underwent surgery for his broken leg and remained in critical but stable condition.
Morgan’s
assistant, Jeffrey Millea, 36, of Shelton, Connecticut, and comedian
Ardie Fuqua Jr., 43, of Jersey City, also remain in critical condition, a
hospital spokesman said.
State police on Tuesday released audio recordings from three 911 calls made after the accident.
"It’s
a terrible accident," a woman tells the dispatcher in one of the calls.
"The car flipped. It’s on its side. It’s two vehicles and a Wal-Mart
truck."
Citing the criminal investigation, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman
wouldn’t say where Roper’s trip had originated or where he was headed at
the time of the crash.
FX Networks issued a statement saying
Morgan’s new TV series, a half-hour comedy scheduled to start filming in
August for a January premiere on the FXX network, would be waiting for
him once he’s well.
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Associated Press writer Joan Lowy reported from Washington, D.C.