The truck driver involved in the June 2014 crash that injured comedian Tracy Morgan and killed another man plans to ask to have criminal charges against dropped, claiming he cannot get a fair trial because of negative publicity.
The attorney for Wal-Mart driver Kevin Roper told the Associated Press he will ask a Middlesex County judge to drop charges this week. Roper was charged in state court with one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto. He was not, however, indicted.
Morgan settled a civil case with Wal-Mart this summer for an undisclosed amount. Roper wasn’t a defendant in that lawsuit. He did, however, he ask to have it delayed until after his criminal case was resolved. Those motions were denied.
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded in August that Roper hadn’t slept during the previous 28 hours and failed to slow down before the crash, despite posted warning signs on the New Jersey Turnpike.
