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Tag: Tracy Morgan critical

  • Tracy Morgan May Never Work Again, Suffering From Lingering Affects of Brain Injury

    Tracy Morgan May Never Work Again, Suffering From Lingering Affects of Brain Injury

    Tracy Morgan is not faring well following a limo crash he was involved in earlier this year.

    According to the comedian’s lawyer, Morgan’s condition is so grave, he may never perform again.

    “The jury’s still out,” Benedict Morelli told the New York Post. “The doctors don’t know the answer. I don’t know the answer.”

    The 45-year-old 30 Rock star was critically injured in June when his limo collided with a Walmart tractor trailer in New Jersey following a performance. His friend, comedian James “Jimmy Mack” McNair, was killed in the crash.

    Earlier this week, Walmart put the blame on Morgan and his other passengers for the injuries they sustained when the Walmart truck collided into the rear of their limo, saying it was their choice not to wear seatbelts. Morgan responded by releasing a statement saying he and his friends “were doing nothing wrong.”

    “After I heard what Walmart said in court I felt I had to speak out,” Morgan said in a statement. “I can’t believe Walmart is blaming me for an accident that they caused.”

    “My friends and I were doing nothing wrong,” he continued. “I want to thank my fans for sticking with me during this difficult time.”

    Morelli lashed out at Walmart for blaming the comedian and his friends Monday in court during a federal lawsuit filed in July for not wearing their seatbelts, a “disregard of [their] own interests.”

    “These people are despicable,” said Morelli. “They knew that they changed these people’s lives forever and killed somebody.”

    Morelli continued with his angry tirade against the retail giant’s efforts to lay the blame on the limo’s passengers.

    “They’re good blame shifters. I guess that’s how they make $783 billion a year, shifting the blame.”

    According to the Post, Morgan is using a wheelchair and is undergoing daily speech, cognitive, vocational and physical therapies to regain function.

  • Tracy Morgan Still Critical, Truck Driver Charged in Crash

    Tracy Morgan is still listed in critical condition from a crash early Saturday morning that killed fellow comic James ‘Jimmy Mack’ McNair. 35-year-old Kevin Roper of Jonesboro, Georgia has been charged with death by auto in connection with the crash as well as with four counts of assault by auto. His bail has been set at $50,000. Tracy Morgan was returning from a performance at a stand up comedy show in Delaware when Roper slammed into his limo bus on the New Jersey Turnpike. McNair was confirmed dead at the scene. Morgan and one other passenger were airlifted to the hospital while two others were taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance. The limo driver and his assistant were unharmed.

    New Jersey State Police Sgt. 1st Class Greg Williams said Kevin Roper apparently failed to notice slow traffic ahead of him around 1:00 A.M. on Saturday. He swerved at the last minute in an attempt to avoid a crash but crashed into the limo instead, causing it to crash into a second tractor trailer and causing a chain reaction accident involving six vehicles.

    James McNair wasn’t only a fellow comic, but was also one of Tracy Morgan’s writers and a dear friend, too–as well as as friend of Morgan’s ex-wife Sabina Morgan.

    “He was one of the first comedians that took Tracy under his wing,” Sabina Morgan said. “They were very close.”

    Royale Watkins is a Los Angeles based comedian who had appeared with both Tracy Morgan and James McNair.

    “There may be guys like Tracy who get the fame and notoriety, but you have people like Jimmy Mack who have kind of energized and fueled cats like Tracy and kept them going on the road,” Watkins said.

    Tracy Morgan began working his comedy routines on the streets in Brooklyn where he grew up fatherless. He helped support his family’s welfare income by making others laugh. He referred to his gift of comedy as a “defense mechanism” several years back. His tough childhood and teen years are often rehashed with a humorous slant during his routines.

    Although Morgan has battled alcoholism in recent years he was in good health prior to the car crash that killed his friend. He underwent a kidney transplant in 2010 that prevented him from daily dialysis treatments.

    Hopefully Sunday’s news will bring positive updates on Tracy Morgan’s condition, as well as the condition of those injured in the crash along with him. James McNair’s family no doubt needs everyone’s prayers.

    Kevin Roper is likely getting very little sleep as of Saturday night. Not only does he face serious legal ramifications, he will forever know he was responsible for taking James McNair’s life.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Tracy Morgan Critical, Fellow Comic Killed in Crash

    Tracy Morgan is in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Jersey, as are three of the people who were also in his limo bus following a serious crash on the New Jersey Turnpike. One of his passengers, fellow comic James McNair–often billed as Jimmy Mack–died in the crash. Comedians Ardie Fuqua and Harris Stanton are among those in critical condition. The six-vehicle pile up occurred in the wee hours of Saturday morning after Morgan and his team performed a stand up routine in Delaware on Friday night.

    The limo bus that was transporting the former Saturday Night Live cast member and 30 Rock star and his passengers overturned when it was hit by a tractor trailer.

    James McNair was 63 years old and lived in Peekskill, New York. He was a close friend of Tracy Morgan as well as one of his writers. He hosted “The Original Uncle Jimmy Mack’s Amateur Hour.”

    Tracy Morgan’s publicist issued an official statement to the media following the accident.

    “His family is now with him and he is receiving excellent care,” Kay said. “We don’t anticipate much of a change in his condition today but will provide a further update once more information becomes available.”

    Many people have reached out with prayers and well wishes for Morgan via Twitter.

    The New Jersey Turnpike was closed for five hours following the crash as the investigation began. A reconstruction team was brought in because there was a fatality involved.

    Tracy Morgan received an Emmy nomination for his role on 30 Rock back in 2009. In addition to SNL and 30 Rock he starred in The Tracy Morgan Show which lasted just one season. He has appeared on the big screen as well, starring in The Longest Yard, Rio, and Why Stop Now, among other films.

    In 2010 the actor and comedian was the recipient of a successful kidney transplant that prevented a lifetime of dialysis. Life hasn’t always been easy for Morgan, who has long been estranged from his mother. He started performing as a comic as a means of emotional and financial survival.

    Tracy Morgan was married for 23 years to high school sweetheart Sabrina Morgan. They divorced in 2009 and are the parents of three sons. Morgan and fiancee Megan Wollover have a daughter, Maven, who was born last July.

    Prayers are likely being said by people from all around the world as Tracy Morgan fights for his life. Prayers are also desperately needed for the loved ones of his friend James McNair–Jimmy Mack, who didn’t survive the horrendous crash.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons