One woman has been killed and seven other people have been injured on the set of the Gregg Allman biopic Midnight Rider. WSAV reports that the incident took place in Wayne County, GA yesterday afternoon, when a CSX train struck the crew as they were filming on the tracks.
According to Variety, the accident took place after the crew had placed a bed on a railroad trestle in order to film a dream sequence. The team expected two trains to cross the bridge, but a third arrived unexpectedly. The film’s director, Randall Miller, and a number of crew members then had less than a minute to get off the bridge, which was not enough time. A female camera assistant was struck and killed by the train, while the others were injured by debris from the bed. Miller, who had been attempting to remove the bed, fell on to the tracks as the train arrived but was pulled off by a still photographer.
CSX Corporation, the company that operates the train, released a statement on the accident that reads:
CSX is deeply saddened by a tragedy that occurred late today on a CSX rail bridge in Doctortown, GA and is cooperating fully with authorities as they investigate. CSX personnel are working with first responders to meet the needs of those injured. The train was en route from Memphis to Savannah when the incident occurred.
A publicist for the film has also released a statement, which reads:
All of us on the production team are devastated by the tragic accident that happened today. Our thoughts are prayers are with the family of our crew member.
The names of the victims have not yet been released.
As previously reported, Midnight Rider is based on Gregg Allman’s autobography My Cross To Bear. Actor William Hurt will play Allman in the film, while All American Rejects frontman Tyson Ritter will play a younger version of the famed musician and songwriter.
UPDATE:
The Associated Press is reporting that Wayne County officials have said that the crew had permission to film on the private property next to the train tracks, but they did not have permission to film on the tracks.
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