Who Survived The Tragic Accident That Killed Tracy Morgan’s Friend, Jimmy Mac?
In June 2014, a devastating accident left comedian, Tracy Morgan, for dead. The event caused the death of passenger and friend of Morgan, James “Jimmy Mac” McNair. The accident happened when a tractor-trailer hit Morgan’s Mercedes limousine bus on the New Jersey turnpike. Other passengers in the multi-car pile-up survived with severe injuries. Who are the survivors and how are they doing today? Here’s what we know.
Reports claim the accident was caused by this
The night of June 14th, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Mac, Ardie Fuqua, Jeffrey Millea, and Harris Stanton came head-to-head with a tired Wal-Mart truck driver. Multiple reports say the driver, Kevin Roper, “failed to slow down despite a warning,” and that “one of the passengers in the back of the 10-seat limo, nor the driver, were wearing seatbelts.”
Critically-injured, Morgan suffered from broken bones, head injuries, and left in a two-week coma. Following the crash, investigators determined the cause as fatigue. Roper had been awake the previous 28 hours when his truck hit Morgan’s limo.
Fatigue, plus the speed at which Roper drove (65 mph in a 45 mph zone), is what led to the horrific incident that caused a six-vehicle chain reaction. Roper’s driving history later showed he’d worked for Wal-Mart 15 weeks with nine previous “critical event reports.”
“One tragic aspect of roadway deaths is that so often they could have been prevented,” National Transportation Safety Board Chairman, Chris Hart, said in 2015.
After the crash, Morgan underwent treatment for traumatic brain injury, rehab to learn how to walk and talk, and utilized a wheelchair, then walking stick, to get around. He later sued Wal-Mart for negligence. The conglomerate settled for an undisclosed amount of money. It’s reported that the amount was enough that Morgan would never have to work again if he didn’t want.
Morgan returned to his comedic roots, performing live and in his hit FX show, The Last O.G. He told USA Today in 2018, he “got a second chance,” at life. However, what happened with the remaining survivors?
Harris Stanton remembers the ‘crunching metal’
A friend, fellow comedian, and longtime writer of Morgan’s, Jimmy Mac, passed from the accident, but the others on board the limo somehow managed to make it through with treatable injuries.
“We’re in the limo, we’re talking, cracking jokes, and there was no window in the limo so we weren’t able to brace for anything, and the next thing I knew there was crunching metal all around me,” said Stanton.
“I remember thinking, ‘Oh God, oh God, I’m in an accident,'” Harris Stanton, who suffered a broken wrist, told ABC News. “And I was just trying to like not, like die. “When it stopped, Tracy was on top of me, and I didn’t see anyone else. And I was just saying, ‘Help me, get me out of here.'”
“[Tracy] was unconscious, he was moaning and groaning. He was breathing,” Stanton said. “But I was the only one screaming.”
In the time since, Stanton’s performed regularly, and released a comedy album, Naive Innocence. The longtime performer has a list of IMDb credits that abruptly stopped at the time of the 2014 accident.
Stanton’s social media accounts are still active, proving he’s still out there, making people laugh at comedy clubs all across the country.
Ardie Fuqua suffered a devastating loss before the crash
Morgan’s show opener the night of the crash, Ardie Fuqua, broke his leg in five places but he’s still here to tell the tale.
Morgan told Fuqua after the accident: “I would be doing a disservice to you if I took you on the road with me — obviously you don’t need the money anymore. You should be focused on building your own brand. You’ve always wanted to be your own boss. Go get it.”
At the time of the shocking events, “100 friends and neighbors gathered on the street” for a prayer vigil “to sing hymns and pray for his recovery,” according to The Jersey Journal.
https://www.instagram.com/ardiefuqua/p/BlP7epqBj_D/?hl=en
With Morgan’s blessing, Fuqua did just that. Though, the comedian is no stranger to heartache. In 2012, his 19-year-old son, Jamal, died after he getting hit in the heart while playing basketball. That tragedy, plus losing a friend in his own accident, shaped Fuqua’s vision of what’s important.
“We’re doing fine now,” Fuqua said in 2016. “Tracy’s doing fine — he’s on tour and I’m doing fine.”
Fuqua is said to be fully recovered. He posts inspirational messages via his social media channels to remind others of the power of positivity.
There is little information on how the rest of those involved in the crash are doing today. Morgan’s assistant, Millea, and his wife, Krista, were also part of the settled lawsuit.
On the 5-year mark of the crash, Morgan said on Twitter how grateful he is to be alive.
“I thank GOD for my family. I am eternally grateful for the love and support they give me,” he said. ” My wife, daughter, sons, and friends are what got me back on my feet. I live every day trying to do right by them and make the most of this second chance.”
