Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan was critically injured in a six vehicle accident Saturday morning that left at least one person dead police said.
Morgan 45 was traveling in a limo bus with six other passengers on the New Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury around 1 a.m. after performing a standup routine when the vehicle overturned New Jersey State Police Sgt. Gregory Williams told FoxNews.com.
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James McNair of Peekskille New York a passenger in the limo bus died in the crash Williams said. Morgan and Jeffrey Millea 36 of Shelton Connecticut were flown from the accident scene to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital where they were in critical condition hospital spokesman Peter Haigney said
A fourth passenger comedian Ardie Fuqua Jr. was also in critical condition while a fifth passenger comic Harris Stanton was treated and released Haigney said. Two others in the limo were unhurt including the driver.
A truck driver from Georgia was charged with death by auto in connection to the crash prosecutors said. Middlesex County prosecutors said 35 year old Kevin Roper of Jonesboro also faces four counts of assault by auto stemming from the crash. His bail was set at $50 000 and he was expected to turn himself in later Saturday. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.
His family is with him now and he is receiving excellent care Morgan's publicist Lewis Kay said. We don't anticipate much of a change in his condition today but will provide a further update once more information comes available.
Williams said the tractor trailer driver apparently failed to notice slow traffic ahead and swerved at the last minute in a vain attempt to avoid a crash. But it smashed into the back of the limo prompting a chain reaction crash with a second tractor trailer an SUV and two cars.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was working with state police to look at any issues in the crash related to commercial trucking and limousine safety.
Walmart President Bill Simon said in a statement a Walmart truck was involved in the accident and that the company will take full responsibility if authorities determine that its truck caused the accident.
We're praying for the family and friends of the passenger who lost his life in the terrible accident the statement said. Our hearts go out to everyone involved and we hope those who were injured get the care that they need and make a full recovery.
Morgan performed comedy standup Friday night at Dover Downs Hotel Casino in Delaware. His scheduled appearance at the Fillmore Charlotte in North Carolina on Saturday night has been canceled.
The New York City native gained fame when he became a cast member of Saturday Night Live in 1996 and was on the sketch comedy program for seven years before leaving to star in The Tracy Morgan Show in 2003. In 2006 Morgan found a long running role on NBC's hit show 30 Rock which was created by SNL co star Tina Fey.
He received an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor for 30 Rock in 2009.
Morgan grew up fatherless one of five siblings in a blight section of Brooklyn where he helped raise and support the family.
He once called his gift for being funny a defense mechanism for his miserable circumstances. As a teen he started doing comedy on the streets to supplement the family's welfare income.
In recent years he has struggled with alcoholism and been arrested on drunken driving charges. He had a successful kidney transplant in late 2010.
Morgan's films include Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back The Longest Yard First Sunday Rio and Why Stop Now.
FoxNews.com's Karl de Vries and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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