Tracy Morgan Tour Crash: Truck Driver Charged With Death And Assault By Auto, Posts Bail

By James William Jun 09, 2014 12:07 AM EDT

In a tour bus crash that left one dead and four hospitalized in critical condition, including comedian Tracy Morgan, the driver of the truck that hit the bus wascharged Sunday with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto.

Middlesex County Acting Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Col. Joseph R. Fuentes, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, announced Sunday that the truck driver, Kevin Roper, 35, of Jonesboro, Ga., had been charged in the accident on a $50,000 bill.

The bill was posted by Roper on Sunday after surrendering to authorities, CNN reports.

The truck driver hit Morgan’s luxury tour van while driving on the New Jersey Turnpike early Saturday morning, in a crash that also involved four other vehicles.

The van flipped over, killing fellow comedian James McNair and critically injuring Tracy Morgan and three other passengers involved in the accident.

The accident occurred near Trenton, N.J., between the 7A and 8A exits. Three other passenger vehicles, including an SUV were also involved.

Morgan and the three other passengers were flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital.

The comedian was returning home after a performance at Rollins Center at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino on Friday night, performing his new Comedy Central stand-up special “Tracy Morgan: Bona Fide,”which he started after sitcom “30 Rock” was taken off air in 2013.

Morgan remains in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson University in New Brunswick where he was rushed after the accident, according to Examiner.

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