Wal-Mart Prepared to ‘Take Full Responsibility’ For Tracy Morgan Accident
The New Jersey Highway accident involving a Wal-Mart truck and Tracy Morgan’s limousine has gained national attention after Morgan was injured and his comedian friend, James McNair was killed. The Wal-Mart truck driver, Kevin Roper, was charged in the accident with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto.
This accident brings to light the issues that truck drivers may face when on the road. Roper, prior to the Morgan accident, was awake for over 24 hours. The official police report states Roper had not slept “for a period in excess of 24 hours,” according to NY Daily News.
Regardless of the dangers that lack of sleep present on the road for truck drivers, just last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee member Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) moved to use the appropriations committee to do away with “restart” requirements that have been in place since July 2013 for truck drivers. According to The Hill, on June 3 (just days before the Tracy Morgan accident), Collins’ proposed an amendment that would delay portions of the restart rule for one year and force the agency to restudy their impact on the trucking industry.
The “restart” requirements are put into place to help ensure drivers have enough sleep to avoid deadly accidents such as the one experienced in New Jersey. The “restart” requirement is a federal mandate that ensures truck drivers who work the maximum of 70 hours in a week take a 34-hour break during the week that includes two consecutive nights off. The earliest a driver can get back on the road after the break is 5 am.
It is yet to be determined exactly how many hours the McNair, the Wal-Mart driver, had worked in the week leading up to the fatal Morgan accident. However, the driver did cite fatigue and “dozing off” at the wheel as the cause of the accident involving Tracy. Wal-Mart will be working with the federal government to determine if any guidelines were not followed. Bill Simon, Wal-Mart President and CEO, said that Wal-Mart is prepared to “take full responsibility” should their driver be considered at fault.
You can read the entire statement provided by KNWA here:
“We’re praying for the family and friends of the passenger who lost his life in the terrible accident in New Jersey. 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.
This is a tragedy and we are profoundly sorry that one of our trucks was involved. We are working quickly to understand what happened and are cooperating fully with law enforcement to aid their investigation.
The facts are continuing to unfold. If it’s determined that our truck caused the accident, Walmart will take full responsibility.
Safety is our absolute highest priority, but that is no comfort whatsoever to the families and friends who are suffering today. We offer them our deepest condolences. We can’t change what happened, but we will do what’s right for the family of the victim and the survivors in the days and weeks ahead.”
[Image Credit: Walmart]
