Comedian Tracy Morgan Survives Deadly Crash
BALDWIN: And here we go. Welcome back to NEW DAY. Comedian Tracy Morgan is showing some signs of improvement after being severely injured in a deadly highway crash over the weekend. Morgan and two others remain in critical condition. Look at that vehicle here. Another comedian was killed in the crash. And today, the truck driver charged with slamming into this limo is expected in court. CNN's Nischelle Turner joins us with more. Tough look at that limo.</s>NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I have to tell you, though, it was good news from-to-hear from his rep yesterday.</s>BALDWIN: Yes.</s>TURNER: Tracy Morgan's rep that he is improving. We're seeing some signs of improvement. That was a very good thing to hear because, yes, look at that, very scary. Thirty-five-year-old Kevin Roper is scheduled to be in court sometime today in New Jersey. He is the man said to be driving the truck that slammed into Tracy Morgan and his friends. Meanwhile, Tracy, Ardie Fuqua and Jeff Millea remain in the hospital.</s>TURNER (voice-over): Actor/comedian Tracy Morgan is in critical condition after a deadly car crash on ate New Jersey turnpike over the weekend. Morgan's publicist says the former "30 Rock" star is responsive following Sunday's surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he's being treated for broken rib, a broken nose and leg. Around 1:00 a.m. Saturday, Morgan was riding in a limo van after forming at a casino in Delaware. State police say Morgan's vehicle was struck from behind by a Wal-Mart tractor trailer that failed to observe slow-moving traffic. The impact flipped Morgan's vehicle on its side, killing one person and injuring several others.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All I know I saw traffic and I stopped and I was upside down.</s>TURNER: Morgan's friend and fellow comedian James McNair, known as Jimmy Mac died in the crash.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Devastated, James, I love you.</s>TURNER: Police arrested 35-year-old Kevin Roper, a Wal-Mart employee and driver of the tractor trailer, charging him with one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto. Wal-Mart's CEO released a statement on the tragedy, saying in part, "We are profoundly sorry that one of our trucks was involved. If it's determined that our truck caused the accident, Wal-Mart will take full responsibility. On Sunday, Tracy Morgan's publicist noted his recovery would be a long one.</s>TURNER (on-camera): Now Morgan's rep tells us that he did have surgery on his broken leg. He also broke his nose. He's got broken ribs. He's expected to be in the hospital now for several more weeks. The driver of that limo that night said in an interview that he heard Tracy screaming after the crash, but he couldn't reach him. So you know, along with all of these broken bones, guys, there's going to be a lot of emotional healing that has to be --</s>BALDWIN: One of his friends died in the crash.</s>CUOMO: Weeks. That suggests more than even just broken bones. That's a long time to be in the hospital.</s>TURNER: Yes, several weeks, they said.</s>CUOMO: I'm looking at that van; he's lucky to be alive.</s>PEREIRA: Exactly. Exactly. Nischelle, thank you.</s>TURNER: Sure.</s>CUOMO: Coming up on NEW DAY, Malaysia cannot find the answers. Now family members of Flight 370 will try to buy them. A multimillion- dollar fund to figure out the mystery. We're going to talk with one of the family members who started the fund.</s>BALDWIN: Plus, in his very first (ph) public comments, Secretary of State John Kerry defending the release of those five Taliban prisoners in exchange for Bowe Bergdahl. We have details from an exclusive new interview with us here at CNN.