Federal investigators looking into the New Jersey Turnpike truck accident involving Tracy Morgan and a limo-van full of friends point to the Walmart drivers excessive speed as a possible contributing factor in the crash.

On Thursday, officials reported to NBC News that Kevin Roper was traveling at 65 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone when the driver slammed into Morgans limo, killing fellow passenger James McNair and seriously injuring Morgan.

The National Transportation Safety Board noted that speed limit had been lowered on the stretch of turnpike where the accident took place due to construction. Previously, posted limits were 55 miles per hour.

Roper had been driving for nearly 10 hours when the crash took place June 7, and records indicate he had been awake for 24 hours while he made his way home after a long haul. Logs show that Roper had been on duty for 13 hours and 32 minutes, nearly reaching the 14-hour maximum allowed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Since the accident, Morgans condition has been updated from critical to fair, though he remains hospitalized.

Roper has been charged with vehicular homicide and assault and has pleaded not guilty to both charges. If you or someone you love has been in a truck accident contact the skilled personal injury lawyers in Tulsa for a free consultation.