Tracy Morgan’s first interview, one year after surviving fatal highway crash

It has now been a year since the June 7, 2014, New Jersey Turnpike crash that killed comedian James “Jimmy Mack” McNair and almost killed Tracy Morgan, Ardie Fuqua and Morgan’s assistant, Jeffrey Millea.

On May 27, Walmart — whose tractor-trailer driver had rear-ended the limo van carrying the comedians — completed a series of out-of-court settlements.

And last week, Morgan granted his first interview to NBC’s TODAY.

“The case is settled, but the pain is always going to be there for Jimmy Mack,” Morgan said. “He was a close friend of mine, a comrade in comedy. He was a loving man, and he was a warm man. He was a good man. It’s just hard for me to see that he’s gone.”

Morgan didn’t remember the crash at all, and when he awoke a couple of weeks later from a coma, only then learned that McNair had died. Morgan said McNair had joined him and the crew for the gig in Delaware so he could watch the 30 Rock and SNL star try out a new joke Jimmy Mack had written for him about Donald Sterling.

Morgan has spent the past year recovering from brain trauma, broken ribs and a broken leg.

“There are times where I have my good day and my bad days, where I forget things,” he said. “There are times where I get the headaches, and the nose bleeds. I won’t even let my lady know because I don’t want her to be worried about it. But I have my good days and my bad.”

An FX Networks sitcom for Morgan has been put on hold indefinitely while he continues his recovery.

“I love comedy. I love comedy. I’ll never stop loving her. I love comedy and I can’t wait to get back to her, but right now my goal is just to heal and get better because I’m not 100 percent yet. I’m not,” he said. “And when I’m there, you’ll know it. I’ll get back to making you laugh. I promise you.”

He closed the segment with shout outs to Fuqua and Millea, as well as comedian Harris Stanton, who was able to survive with only minimal injuries.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

View all posts by Sean L. McCarthy →

One thought on “Tracy Morgan’s first interview, one year after surviving fatal highway crash

Comments are closed.