The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued its final report on the Feb. 20, 2014 accident in Jesup, Ga., in which a crew member was killed during the filming of a motion picture. The Board found that the probable cause of the accident was the film crew’s unauthorized entry onto CSX Transportation’s right-of-way to film at the Altamaha River Bridge, despite CSX’s repeated denial of permission.
Contributing to the accident was the adjacent property owner’s actions to facilitate the film crew’s access to the bridge and the CSX right-of-way.
Dream sequence turned into a nightmare
Sarah Jones was killed while working on a biopic about Southern rock musician Gregg Allman entitled "Midnight Rider." A dream sequence was being filmed on an old railroad trestle bridge when a train traveling at 56 mph (in a 70 mph zone) struck a prop bed that had been placed across the tracks. With only seconds to scramble to safety, the workers were forced to abandon the bed. It was struck by the train and shattered into shrapnel-like pieces, once of which struck Jones, knocking her into the train. The 27-year-old was killed instantly. Six others were also injured by the debris and had to be hospitalized. Sarah was 27 when she died.
Director guilty of involuntary manslaughter
The film’s director, Randall Miller was recently sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing. Miller will also serve eight years on probation and pay a $20,000 fine.
The release of the report came during the first day of a two-day NTSB forum, Trains & Trespassing: Ending Tragic Encounters, which explores the dangers of trespassing on railroad property.
Contributing to the accident was the adjacent property owner’s actions to facilitate the film crew’s access to the bridge and the CSX right-of-way.
A dangerous affinity
“Americans have a longstanding affinity with railroads and railroad tracks,” said NTSB Board Chairman Christopher A. Hart. “But train tracks are private property and are dangerous places where trains kill and injure hundreds of people every year.”
According to Operation Lifesaver, rail trespassing deaths surged 22 percent last year.
The full report can be found here: www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/rab1501.aspx
Jones’ family has created the Sarah Jones Film Foundation, the purpose of which is to award film scholarships, promote set safety, and oversee the operations of Safety for Sarah and Slates for Sarah.
