Walmart Paid the Price: Tracy Morgan’s Settlement Left Walmart in the Rearview

The Breakdown: Tracy Morgan survived a deadly crash when a Walmart truck, driven by a fatigued driver, slammed into his van. Walmart ultimately accepted fault and settled the case.

In June 2014, comedian Tracy Morgan climbed into a passenger van with his buddies after a long day of filming The Night Before. Suddenly, a Walmart tractor-trailer barreled into their lane. The crash changed Tracy’s life—and nearly cut it short. Tracy walked away in critical condition. However, two other people in the van died – comedian James “Jimmy Mack” McNair and driver Jeff Millea.

"I broke every bone in my face, my ribs. I pulverized my femur," the comedian revealed during his Netflix special Staying Alive. "I'm from the ghetto and after I came out the coma, I was blind for a week and where I come from, you don't want to be blind for a second. All kinds of s--- started coming up missing in my hospital room."

Tracy’s collision wasn’t just another headline, it shocked the entertainment world. Fans watched as the guy with that electric smile battled broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, and big questions about Walmart’s responsibility. The company ultimately settled with the famed comedian, marking a legal end to the ordeal.

Here is a look at how it all went down.

Immediately following the crash, folks pointed fingers at Walmart. The FedEx driver hauling that rig had dozed off at the wheel, rear-ending Morgan’s van at highway speed. Officials found the driver had driven nearly 600 miles straight, without the legally required breaks. The National Transportation Safety Board said Walmart truck driver Kevin Roper could have prevented the June 7, 2014, crash if he had reduced his speed to 45 mph, per AP.

Walmart released a statement after settling the dispute, apologizing for the driver’s negligence. “We are pleased to have reached an amicable settlement that ends this litigation,” said Greg Foran, Walmart U.S. president and CEO (via TIME). “We are deeply sorry that one of our trucks was involved.”

In March 2017, Tracy announced that Walmart agreed to a hefty settlement. While neither side disclosed every dime, reports suggested that the comic received around $90 million. Other injured passengers—like Morgan’s friend Arthel Neville— reportedly walked away with seven-figure sums. Walmart allegedly shelled out about $90 million to settle all disputes linked to that crash. However, Tracy’s attorney denied those claims. “It’s not even close to the number,” Benedict Morelli told CBS This Morning.

After recovering, Tracy returned to the comedy scene better than ever. By 2016, he was joking about his injuries on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, making light of being in a coma. A year later, he was back on the stage in his first post-accident standup special for Netflix.

But Tracy’s special wasn’t just about the wreck. He bounced hard off that wreckage—joking about relearning how to pee, arguing with his physical therapist, and dating when half his face still drooped.