Truck driver in Tracy Morgan crash indicted on manslaughter, vehicular homicide charges

The driver in the truck-versus-cars accident that left Tracy Morgan and three friends injured and comic James “Jimmy Mac” McNair dead was indicted Wednesday on charges that could subject him, if he’s convicted, to decades in prison.

Kevin Roper, driving a Walmart truck at the time of the June 2014 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike, was charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide and third-degree aggravated assault, the Associated Press reported.

Those charges carry steep sentences if Roper were found guilty: Ten to 30 years for manslaughter, 5 to 10 years for vehicular homicide and 18 months a pop for each assault charge.

Since the accident, in which Morgan suffered brain trauma and a broken nose, ribs and leg, the former “30 Rock” star has gone through significant rehab, gotten married, appeared at the Emmy Awards in September and hosted “Saturday Night Live” in October.

In August, when the National Traffic Safety Board put responsibility for the accident on a sleep-deprived Roper, the 47-year-old actor settled with Walmart, which had previously tried to put blame for the severity of the victims’ injuries on them not wearing seatbelts. Terms of the deal were confidential.

A judge has to review the grand jury transcripts, the AP said, and will tentatively revisit the case in January. Roper’s lawyer, David Glassman, is trying to get the initial charges against Roper — death by auto and four counts of assault by auto — tossed out because of bad publicity around the settlement with Walmart.

Roper, from Georgia, has pleaded not guilty to those initial charges.

Follow Christie D’Zurilla on Twitter @theCDZ and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs.