Publicist: Tracy Morgan Still In Critical Condition, Showing Signs Of Improvement
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan is showing signs of improvement following a New Jersey highway crash that badly injured him and killed one of his friends.
Publicist Lewis Kay said Thursday that Morgan remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition but his medical team is "optimistic that his recovery is progressing."
Kay said Morgan's fiancee is by his side and is relaying to him everyone's prayers and good wishes.
The 45-year-old former "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock" star suffered broken ribs and a broken leg in the Saturday morning crash.
Police said Walmart driver Kevin Roper was driving a semi-trailer when it slammed into the back of the limo bus carrying Morgan and several of his friends, who were returning from a standup comedy show in Delaware. The limo bus then flipped, setting off a chain reaction.
The crash, on the New Jersey Turnpike near Cranbury Township, killed fellow comedian James "Uncle Jimmy Mack" McNair and seriously injured two other people. Funeral services were held Thursday for McNair.
The collision also involved a second tractor-trailer, a sport utility vehicle and two cars. No one in the other vehicles was injured.
Roper, a Georgia resident, has pleaded not guilty to death-by-auto and assault-by-auto charges.
According to a criminal complaint, Roper was operating the truck "recklessly," and "without having slept for a period in excess of 24 hours."
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