Tracy Morgan released from hospital, launches legal action

ACTOR Tracy Morgan has been released from a rehabilitation centre after suffering multiple injuries last month and is suing Walmart, whose truck rear-ended his stretch limousine.

The crash on a New Jersey highway killed Morgan’s friend and fellow comic James McNair and injured three other passengers in the vehicle.

Morgan, 45, was critically injured, suffering broken ribs, a broken nose and a broken leg.

“Tracy has been released from the rehabilitation centre and will continue his recovery efforts at home,” Morgan’s publicist Lewis Kay said in a statement.

The accident occurred on June 7, when the Emmy-nominated former star of 30 Rock was heading home from a stand-up performance in Delaware.

The Walmart truck driver had begun his shift more than 13 hours before the accident, in violation of US transport regulations.

Morgan filed a suit against Walmart late last week in the US District Court in New Jersey.

“Walmart was careless and negligent in the ownership and operation of its motor vehicle, which caused Mr Morgan to suffer severe personal injuries,” the filing read.

The suit said that Roper was so fatigued after a commute of more than 696 miles to work that he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into Morgan’s vehicle.

The truck’s sophisticated collision-avoidance systems, which automatically brake the truck when they sense slower traffic, also failed to function.

“Walmart knew or should have known that one of the truck’s most important safety features was compromised,’’ the filing said.

The retail giant called the accident “a terrible tragedy’’.

“We are deeply sorry that one of our trucks was involved,’’ it said in a statement quoted by US media.

“As we’ve said, we’re co-operating fully in the ongoing investigation.