Actor and Comedian Tracy Morgan critically injured in New Jersey tractor trailer crash

Deadly tractor trailer crash leaves one dead and several, including Tracy Morgan, seriously injured

Former Saturday Live Cast Member and “30 Rock” star Tracy Morgan was critically injured early this morning when the limo bus he was riding in was hit by a tractor-trailer in a fatal six-vehicle accident on the New Jersey Turnpike, about 50 miles south of New York City. The crash left one passenger in the limo bus dead and several others with serious injuries. The Los Angeles Times reported that the limo bus was overturned after being hit by a tractor-trailer.

Two tractor-trailers were involved in the crash, which occurred about 1a.m. in the northbound lane in Robinsville. Earlier in the evening, Morgan had appeared at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, as part of his multi-city comedy tour called “Turn It Funny.”

ABC News is reporting that a dozing truck driver didn’t see traffic slowing in front of his 18-wheeler until it was too late, crashing into the vehicle carrying comedian Tracy Morgan and his entourage.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts 2012, 104,000 people were killed or injured in crashes involving a large truck that year. There were 333,000 accidents involving a large truck, and there are 10,659,380 large trucks registered in this country. 12,000 were killed or injured in bus accidents.

Traffic Safety Facts 2012 also reported that there were 5.6 million-police-reported motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2012 resulting in 33,561 deaths and 2.36 million injuries. The majority of those persons killed or injured in crashes were drivers, who accounted for 63%. Midnight to 3 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays proved to be the deadliest 3-hour periods throughout 2012. Collision with another motor vehicle in transport was the most common first harmful event for fatal, injury and property damage crashes.

Tractor-trailer crashes are serious and often deadly. Earlier this week, three Northern Virginia residents were killed and one injured in a fatal crash on I-81. A car they were driving in had slammed into the rear of a tractor-trailer that had stopped for a flat tire. One person was also killed this week in a crash involving three semis and a box truck in the southbound lanes of Interstate 71 in Ohio.

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer, Dan Munley, offers the following tips for sharing the road safely with large trucks. First, remember that large trucks do not operate like cars, they are so large that accelerating, slowing down and stopping takes more time and needs more space than other vehicles on the road. They also have large blind spots and make wide turns.
• Stay out of the blind spots or no zones.
• Beware of wide turns.
• Don’t get distracted when driving in traffic with large trucks.
• Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and large trucks on the road,
• Always wear your seatbelt.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, Dan Munley and the Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help. Visit www.munley.com for more information.