Grand jury indicts truck driver in Tracy Morgan crash
A New Jersey grand jury on Wednesday indicted the truck driver who crashed into a limo van carrying Tracy Morgan, killing one man and severely injuring the comedian.
The grand jury charged Kevin Roper with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide and third-degree aggravated assault charges in the 2014 crash.
Roper’s attorney tried unsuccessfully to have previous charges of vehicular homicide and assault by auto thrown out. His lawyer argued Tuesday that Wal-Mart’s settlement of Morgan’s lawsuit generated publicity that harmed the Jonesboro, Georgia, resident’s chance for a fair trial.
Roper was driving a Wal-Mart truck when the crash occurred on the New Jersey Turnpike. He was not in court Wednesday, and an arraignment will be scheduled at a later date, said a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office.
His lawyer, David Glassman, told the Associated Press last week that he faulted the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office for not stepping in and seeking a stay in the federal lawsuit.
A National Transportation Safety Board investigation concluded in August that Roper hadn’t slept during the previous 28 hours before the crash, a finding Glassman has disputed.
The report concluded Roper failed to slow down immediately before the crash, despite posted warning signs on the turnpike.
The board also faulted Morgan and other passengers in the limo van for not wearing seat belts and adjusting headrests, which it said contributed to the severity of their injuries when the limo was struck from behind.
Not being No. 1 OK for bit with Bieber
Justin Bieber is sharing some love with Britain’s National Health Service.
The Canadian singer says he does not want to be No.1 on Britain’s Christmas charts, and has urged his fans to support a charity single instead.
With just two days to go until Christmas Day, Bieber was narrowly ahead of a National Health Service choir in the race for the top spot – a popular annual competition in Britain.
The pop star tweeted Wednesday: “For 1 week it’s ok not to be #1. Let’s do the right thing & help them win. It’s Christmas.”
The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir’s single “A Bridge Over You” was just several hundred sales behind Bieber’s “Love Yourself.”
Proceeds from the choir’s single will go to British charities.