rick leventhal joins us now from newark. hey, rick. >> reporter: hey, arthel. 3,500 athletes from every state in the nation joined by 1,000 coaches and 10,000 volunteers, already filling the prudential center for the opening ceremonies scheduled to begin about 20 minutes from now. 21st century fox, our parent company, is one of the founding partners of this event. a short time ago, we spoke to mark edmondson, in charge of the new jersey delegation of the special olympics, about what makes this competition so great. >> the change of hearts, and that's what it is. if you really understand the passion that our athletes have for sport and their desire to be able to achieve with special olympics, they develop that self-confidence and that self-esteem to be able to go into the community and participate just like any other citizen, and that's what's important. our athletes have to be looked at as any citizen and any athlete on any team. >> reporter: well, earlier this week, we met with one of the athletes representing connecticut, k

fox's rick leventhal reports some gang members reportedly are as young as six years old. >> reporter:e calling it the largest gang take down in new york city history. 500 officers swarming two harlem housing projects arresting dozens of young men allegedly involved in shootings, stabbings, robberies and more. >> no one in this city should hear gunshots or be afraid to have their child go to school or parents go to the grocery store. >> reporter: 40% of the shoots in america's biggest city are blamed on gangs or youth crews with members as young as 14 often battling over turf. street smart cops say dumb enough to post on facebook and social meeting. they know what they did so they know what's going. i'm going to get a pistol and go over there. guns don't kill people. we kill people. >> make no mistake about it. the motivation here oftentimes is not about drugs. it's just violence for violence sake. >> reporter: community activists say poverty is to blame. >> when people have less they try to make the best with the less that they have. and sometimes the less is just a block. and if i do

rick leventhal joining us with more on this. >> reporter: there are now serious questions about the truck driver. a criminal complaint suggests he may have been awake for more than 24 hours before that violent and fatal crash late friday night that killed one man and left tracy morgan ask two other ors in critical condition. 35-year-old kevin -- [inaudible] was driving when he failed to notice traffic slowing down this front of him and swerved, smashing into a mercedes limo bus carrying morgan and his entourage who were headed home from a show in new york after a show in dover, -- to new york after a show in dover. he was expected in court today, but his arraignment has now been rescheduled for wednesday afternoon. morgan, who starred on ""30 rock"" was heard screaming for help after the crash. the bus driver says he tried to reach the comedian and others but couldn't after the bus spun and flipped several times. morgan's friend and mentor, james mcnair was killed in the accident. a spokesman for morgan released a statement saying the comedian has a long recovery ahead at robert wood john

senior correspondent rick leventhal's inside the prudential center in newark, new jersey with this story. >> reporter: hi, shannon. athletes with intellectual disabilities representing all 50 states and the district of columbia competing here and converging here for the launch of the 2014 games. it's a pretty amazing event, and it's designed to unite people of all backgrounds and abilities and then transform their lives through sport. special olympic athletes carry the flame of hope through times square. on its way to light the cauldron for the opening of this year's summer usa games in new jersey. featuring nearly 3,500 athletes, 1,000 coaches, and 10,000 volunteers. >> softball, basketball. >> that's a lot of medals. you're running out of room. >> been doing it for about 15 years. >> reporter: kimberly mallin will be one of the athletes representing connecticut. >> i'm not nervous. people cheering for me. my parents are there supporting us, everything we do. and it's really fun. >> reporter: the special olympics allows athletes with intellectual disabilities to train and compete with c

rick leventhal live in the newsroom with the very latest. rick, anymore news about what happened during the crash? >> reporter: eric the driver of the 18 wheeler who allege ledly caused this fiery and fatal crash, kevin roper is charged with one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto. he is expected in court after posting 50,000-dollar bond. there is questions about a twitter account. morgan was in great spirits friday piling into his bus after a packed show at a casino in dover, delaware. the ride was cut short when police say a walmart truck rear-ended the bus on new jersey turnpike, spinning it and flipping it several times. morgan's friend and mentor, 62-year-old james mcnair was killed in the crash. morgan and two others badly hurt. listed in critical condition at robert wood johnson hospital in new brunswick, new jersey. a spokesman for morgan released a statement sunday saying he has been more responsive day which is an incredibly encouraging sign. he sustained ad number of injuries including a broken leg, broken fem