Did trucker fall asleep in accident with comedians?

Friday June 13, 2014

We often discuss how dangerous and destructive trucking accidents can be, and an accident involving a tractor-trailer and a famous actor-comedian tragically proves that point.

Early Saturday, former “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” star Tracy Morgan was traveling with a group of people in a limo bus on the way home from a comedy show when they were hit by a Walmart tractor-trailer that failed to stop for slowed traffic.

The impact caused the limo bus to flip and slam into several other vehicles, pulverizing it in the process. A 62-year-old veteran comedian on the limo bus was killed in the accident and Morgan and several others sustained serious injuries.

Morgan has been in critical condition since the crash, though his spokespeople have said that his condition seems to be improving.

Following the accident, it was reported that the driver of the Walmart semi-truck had not slept in more than 25 hours. Although federal officials have implemented strict regulations governing the amount of rest time truckers are required to get, driver fatigue remains a factor in many fatal trucking accidents.

Truckers are often pressured to drive faster, take shorter breaks and cover more ground than is safe. As a result, truckers often drift off behind the wheel and their humungous and powerful trucks turn into deadly weapons on our roads and highways.

Although police did not confirm if the Walmart trucker had fallen asleep behind the wheel and that’s the reason he failed to stop before slamming into the limo bus, it’s certainly a possibility.

The trucker was criminally charged for his role in the accident and he and his employer could potentially also face civil liability as well.

Source: CNN.com, “Police: Driver charged in Tracy Morgan crash was awake 24 hours,” Kevin Conlon and Doug Ganley, June 9, 2014

Get in Touch

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation

At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C., we handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not get paid unless and until you receive a settlement or a jury award.

Schedule a free, confidential consultation with a skilled Connecticut personal injury lawyer today.

News & insights
News

$5.5M Jury Verdict: Death of a 69-Year-Old Man with Mesenteric Ischemia

15

April
2024

KJSR Recognized as Best Personal Injury Firm in CT - 2024
News

KJSR Recognized as Best Personal Injury Firm in CT - 2024

7

February
2024

Can You File a Claim for Injuries Suffered After a Failure-to-Yield Car Accident?
Articles

Can You File a Claim for Injuries Suffered After a Failure-to-Yield Car Accident?

7

December
2023

What Happens if You Fall at Work? (and What to Do Next)
Articles

What Happens if You Fall at Work? (and What to Do Next)

7

December
2023

4 Steps to Take After a Medical Misdiagnosis
Articles

4 Steps to Take After a Medical Misdiagnosis

15

November
2023

Will a Hit-and-Run Claim Raise My Insurance?
Articles

Will a Hit-and-Run Claim Raise My Insurance?

12

October
2023

Surgical Stapler Injuries: Can You File a Lawsuit?
Articles

Surgical Stapler Injuries: Can You File a Lawsuit?

9

October
2023

Everything You Need to Know Before Filing a Pharmaceutical Lawsuit
Insights

Everything You Need to Know Before Filing a Pharmaceutical Lawsuit

21

September
2023

What Happens if the At-Fault Driver Is Deceased After the Accident?
Articles

What Happens if the At-Fault Driver Is Deceased After the Accident?

18

September
2023

KJSR Recognized in 2024 edition of Best Law Firms in America®
News

KJSR Recognized in 2024 edition of Best Law Firms in America®

15

September
2023