Morgan recovering from surgery after NJ crash

Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J.

Tracy Morgan was recovering Sunday but was expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks after having surgery on a broken leg suffered in a deadly chain-reaction crash on the New Jersey Turnpike that left two others critically injured and another man dead.

The 45-year-old actor and comedian, a former “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” cast member, remained in critical condition but was “more responsive” Sunday after having surgery for a broken leg, said Morgan’s spokesman, Lewis Kay.

Kay said that Morgan suffered a broken femur, broken nose and several broken ribs and is expected to remain hospitalized for “several weeks.” He said that Morgan’s family is “tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans.”

A Wal-Mart truck driver from Georgia was charged with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto. Authorities said 35-year-old Kevin Roper of Jonesboro apparently failed to slow for traffic ahead early Saturday in Cranbury Township and swerved at the last minute to avoid a crash. Instead, his big rig smashed into the back of Morgan’s chauffeured Mercedes limo bus, killing comedian James “Jimmy Mack” McNair, authorities said.

Also critically injured were Morgan’s assistant, Jeffrey Millea, 36, of Shelton, Conn., and comedian Ardie Fuqua Jr., 43, of Jersey City. They remained in critical condition Sunday evening, said Zenaida Mendez, a spokeswoman for Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick.