The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued workplace safety citations against the movie production company involved in the February 20 train accident that killed 27-year-old camera assistant Sarah Jones and injured six others. The Georgia train accident took place on a railroad bridge in rural Wayne County, as Jones and other crew members with the production company were filming a biographical movie about singer Gregg Allman, called Midnight Rider. If you have suffered serious injuries in a workplace accident in Georgia, consult our reputable workers’ compensation lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak to explore your possible compensation options.
Safety Violations on Midnight Rider Set
Federal workplace safety regulators issued the citations against Film Allman LLC last week, proposing $74,900 in fines for two safety violations stemming from the Georgia train accident that killed Sarah Jones. According to OSHA, the production company willfully put workers in danger of falling off a railroad bridge or being struck by a live train while shooting a scene for Midnight Rider. Filming had just begun on the biopic when a freight train plowed into the crew on a railroad bridge spanning the Altamaha River, as they were filming a dream sequence for the movie. According to investigators, several of Jones’ crew members were injured either by the train itself, or by flying shrapnel from a bed that had been placed across the tracks to film the scene.
Film Company Exposed Crew to Risks
“It is unacceptable that Film Allman LLC knowingly exposed their crew to moving trains while filming on a live track and railroad trestle,” said David Michaels, the assistant labor secretary who heads OSHA. On July 3, a grand jury indicted Midnight Rider director Randall Miller, his wife, Jody Savin, and executive producer, Jay Sedrish, on charges of criminal trespassing and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal train accident. According to Sheriff’s investigators, the Midnight Rider filmmakers allowed their crew onto the railroad trestle despite being denied permission to film there by CSX Railroad, which owned the train involved in the accident.
Our Workers’ Comp Attorneys Can Help
Workplace accidents like the one that killed Sarah Jones occur far too frequently in Georgia and throughout the United States, often because of the negligence of employers or on-site supervisors. If you have suffered injuries in an on-the-job accident in Georgia, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal job site accident, contact our knowledgeable attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak today for legal help. You may have grounds to file a workers’ compensation claim for medical, disability or death benefits, in order to seek fair and timely reimbursement for your losses. With our qualified workers’ comp lawyers on your side, you can protect your legal rights and pursue the financial compensation you and your loved ones deserve.
Source: http://www.wtrf.com/story/26286124/osha-cites-film-company-in-ga-train-accident
