A truck driver pleaded not guilty Wednesday in the fatal New Jersey Turnpike crash that also injured comedian Tracy Morgan as investigators look into what role his long commute to work played in the accident.
Wal-Mart driver Kevin Roper lived in Georgia, but his job was based in Delaware, National Transportation Safety Board spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said.
A criminal complaint alleges that the 35-year-old Roper, of Jonesboro, Georgia, hadn’t slept for more than 24 hours before the accident when he allegedly swerved to avoid slowed traffic on the turnpike and plowed into Morgan’s limo on Saturday morning.
Wal-Mart has not explained what Roper’s driving route was. The company has said it believes he was in compliance with federal safety regulations.
Roper’s pleaded not guilty to assault and death by auto charges and his bail was kept at $50,000. Roper and his attorney, David Glassman, refused to answer reporters’ questions after the hearing about whether Roper was the author of tweets from a Twitter account bearing his name and featuring his picture and calling reports of his not having slept for 24 hours before the accident “complete BS!”
AP