Tracy Morgan moved to rehab center; NTSB says truck driver in crash was speeding

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (WABC) -- Actor-comedian Tracy Morgan has been moved from a hospital to a rehabilitation facility as he recovers from a serious auto accident in New Jersey.

Morgan's spokesman said Friday that the former star of "30 Rock" is showing signs of improvement but has a long road to full recovery. He suffered a broken leg and broken ribs.

Spokesman Lewis Kay didn't identify the rehab facility where Morgan, 45, is staying, saying only that it is in New Jersey. Earlier this week, Morgan's condition was upgraded to fair.

The results released Thursday of a preliminary NTSB investigation into the crash that left Tracy Morgan in critical condition has revealed that the driver of the truck that slammed into the comedian's Mercedes limo van was driving 20 miles per hour over the speed limit.

The crash killed comedian James McNair, better known as Jimmy Mack, and injured Jeffrey Millea, Ardie Fuqua and Harris Stanton.

According to the report, Wal-Mart driver Kevin Roper was traveling 65 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone, with the speed limit lowered for construction, when he crashed into the van that was stuck in traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike near Cranbury.

NTSB investigators obtained information concerning the construction project, where contractors were performing work on a large overhead sign about 2.7 miles north of the crash location. The right and center lanes of the Turnpike were closed in the vicinity of this construction zone, which is believed to have the cause of the backup. About a mile south of the crash location, an advance warning sign notified northbound traffic of the lane closure ahead. About 0.4 mile south of the crash location, speed limit signs were posted that reduced the speed from 55 mph to 45 mph.

On Friday a statement by Roper's attorney for his client said that the NTSB preliminary findings "only served to bolster our intention to aggressively defend the matter to the fullest."

"While this case continues to remain in the spotlight, we have no interest in commenting on rumor or speculation, exchanging a news conference for a jury, or sacrificing Mr. Roper's presumption of innocence for a sound bite," said the statement from David Jay Glassman. "The lives of all of those affected deserve more than that."

The preliminary review of the data showed that the truck was traveling at 65 mph for the 60 seconds preceding the collision, and NTSB investigators are correlating the data with the physical evidence.

Roper has pleaded not guilty to death by auto and assault by auto charges.