Walmart is being sued by Tracy Morgan following the accident on the New Jersey Turnpike that injured him critically and killed another man, according to CNN.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey on Thursday. Morgan suffered a broken nose, broken ribs and a broken leg in the crash that occurred on June 7 in the early morning hours. Friend and comedian James McNair was killed in the accident.
Morgan was released from the rehab center last week and will “continue his recovery at home with an aggressive outpatient program,” according to Lewis Kay, his representative. “He asked me to pass along his sincerest gratitude to everyone who has helped him get to this point. He would also appreciate some privacy during this crucial point in his recovery.”
The National Transportation Safety Board said that the truck from Walmart that hit Morgan’s limo was driving 20 MPH over the speed limit. The driver was also very close to his drive time limit.
The complaint was filed by lawyers who are acting for Morgan and three other people. They said that the truck driven by Kevin Roper, a Walmart employee, hit the rear end of Morgan’s limousine.
“The defendants’ negligence was a substantial contributing factor in causing plaintiffs’ injuries,” the complaint states.
A statement from Walmart said, “Our thoughts continue to go out to them, their families and friends, as well as to the families and friends of everyone involved, including Mr. McNair who lost his life. We are deeply sorry that one of our trucks was involved. As we’ve said, we’re cooperating fully in the ongoing investigation. We know it will take some time to resolve all of the remaining issues as a result of the accident, but we’re committed to doing the right thing for all involved.”
Last month, Roper entered a not guilty plea to criminal charges of assault by auto and vehicular homicide.