Film crewman killed by train

robertmacdowell · **Posted:** Fri Mar 13, 2015 5:15 pm

Super 12-axle oversize loads hitting Amtraks, that happens a lot more than you think. There's one crossing near a power plant where it happened TWICE. I'm sure that's a big part of why there are now 800# signs on every crossing, and yes, big movers are already required to coordinate with railroads before crossing them.

At this point I foresee a day when there's a yellow light on top of every signal control box, which tells the heavy hauler, parade, film crew etc. that the crossing is blocked out of service in the PTC. Cross with the light not flashing = go to jail.

There are so many other ways these could have been done, other precaution that could have been taken, etc. So this isn't just stupidity of action, it's several more stupidities of inaction. And from this grand start, they think they can save themselves with smart. /facepalm

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1029

For the second time in three months, a Personal Trainer was killed while filming an exercise video on railroad property:
Atlanta TV-Channel 11: Personal trainer hit by train while making YouTube video

A short excerpt:

Quote:

[Travis Williams] Williams, who had changed his name to Achilles Williams, was a personal trainer who often videotaped outdoor workouts for his YouTube channel. Investigators say Williams and a friend were shooting a video near the train tracks over Roxboro Road near East Paces Ferry at the time of the accident. Williams was jumping rope while the friend shot video.

Investigators say Williams was not on the tracks, but was close enough to them to be struck as the freight train went by. They say he apparently misjudged the width of the train in relation to the size of the tracks. His friend was not injured but he was knocked down a hill by the impact.

And here is an update about the January fatality: LA Daily News - Greg Plitt’s girlfriend: Actor thought he was running on an adjacent track when killed by Metrolink train

Quote:

The girlfriend of Bravo reality TV star Greg Plitt told police the actor and fitness trainer mistakenly thought he was running on an adjacent track when he was struck and killed by a Metrolink train in Burbank while filming a sports drink promotion, according to an autopsy report released Friday.

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1029

The NTSB has released their report about the Film Crew Trespassing on CSX Right-of-Way fatality, that occurred in Jesup, Georgia on February 20, 2014:
National Transportation Safety Board - Railroad Accident Brief -Film Crew Trespassing on CSX Right-of-Way

The report includes this new detail:

Quote:

On the morning of the accident, February 20, 2014, CSX replied to the film location manager by e-mail, copying the Rayonier communications manager, to again deny the request to access CSX railroad property. In the e-mail, CSX stated:

Unfortunately, CSX will not be able to support your request. As discussed, I do suggest that you reach out to the short line railroads as they routinely support filming...

According to the film location manager, he forwarded the CSX e-mail to film staff, including: the producer, director, writer, production designer, and a location assistant. NTSB investigators were told during interviews with film staff that there was discussion about CSX’s e-mail on the morning of the accident. 6 In an interview, the location manager stated that he informed the producer, the director, the writer, and the first-assistant director about CSX’s denial of permission for filming on the railroad property. Furthermore, the location manager said that the director insisted that filming would proceed despite CSX’s denial of permission. As a result, the location manager refused to participate in the film shoot; although he could not prohibit the film crew from working.

p51 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2015 8:22 pm

Chris Webster wrote:

In an interview, the location manager stated that he informed the producer, the director, the writer, and the first-assistant director about CSX’s denial of permission for filming on the railroad property. Furthermore, the location manager said that the director insisted that filming would proceed despite CSX’s denial of permission. As a result, the location manager refused to participate in the film shoot; although he could not prohibit the film crew from working.

Man, I bet he was glad he'd distanced himself from that mess.
All that said, I'd expect someone in that position to have some personal guilt later, in that, "If only I'd been there, maybe I could have stopped it," when it fact, he'd probably been fired on the spot for saying, "no."
Seriously, I've seen people get canned right off the set for telling someone up the food chain something can't be done or not done the way the director wants. A film set is worse than the military for an overall attitude of, "Just make it happen, I'm not interested in hearing anything other than we're ready to go the way you wanted"...

Trainlawyer · **Posted:** Wed Mar 25, 2015 6:36 am

Chris Webster wrote:

The NTSB has released their report about the Film Crew Trespassing on CSX Right-of-Way fatality, that occurred in Jesup, Georgia on February 20, 2014:
National Transportation Safety Board - Railroad Accident Brief -Film Crew Trespassing on CSX Right-of-Way

The timing of the release is not a surprise. This was probably one of the most egregious act of trespass in recent times (and certainly one of the most publicly known).

Yesterday was Day One of a two-day public forum hosted by the NTSB titled Trains and Trespassing: Ending Tragic Encounters http://ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2015_trespassing_FRM.aspx
GME

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1029

Trainlawyer wrote:

This was probably one of the most egregious act of trespass in recent times (and certainly one of the most publicly known).

According to a promo I saw today, the syndicated television program Corrupt Crimes is broadcasting an episode about the incident.

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1029

An update from Associated Press reporter Russ Bynum:
Allman film director jailed in Georgia seeks early release (December 23, 2015)

A short excerpt:

Quote:

A movie director sentenced to jail for the on-set death of a camera assistant asked a Georgia judge to set him free less than a year after he began serving time for the fatal train collision during shooting of a film about singer Gregg Allman.

and

Quote:

[Former "Midnight Rider" director Randall Miller] was sentenced to two years in jail as part of a deal with prosecutors that allowed him to avoid standing trial — and a possible 11-year prison term if a jury convicted him. Now that Miller has served fewer than 10 months behind bars, his attorneys say he should be released early because of his good behavior as well as concerns for Miller's health.

Charlie · **Posted:** Thu Dec 24, 2015 2:11 am

I would hope that the judge shows the same concern for Miller's health that Miller showed for the welfare of his crew.

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1029

A February 19, 2016 article from the Associated Press: Parents of Film Worker Killed on Set Spread Safety Message

An excerpt:

Quote:

LOS ANGELES — Richard and Elizabeth Jones stood on a crowded film set, looking out on a sea of actors and workers ready to shoot a scene. Every one of them reminded them of their daughter Sarah, who died two years ago on a Georgia railroad track shooting a film scene.

The past two years have turned the South Carolina couple into advocates for the safety of set workers. In a city in which crews move at a frenetic pace to stay on schedule and get the perfect shot, the Joneses have gotten some of them to slow down and reflect.

Trainlawyer · **Posted:** Wed Mar 22, 2017 6:25 pm

From Occupational Safety and Health Reporter™
March 21, 2017
Filmmakers Fined for Flouting Safety Rules in Fatal Train Accident
https://www.bna.com/filmmakers-fined-flouting-n57982085520/

GME

p51 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 22, 2017 7:21 pm

Doesn't look like this movie is going to be finished, based on what I read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Rider_(film)

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1029

Deadline dot com has an article about the Sarah Jones Family vs. CSX trial that is happening this week:
Sarah Jones Family V. CSX Trial: Day 3 Of Trial Draws Parents To Stand

Dennis Storzek · **Posted:** Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:13 pm

Pretty obvious from the testimony that Miller is at fault... but I suppose the family is going after CSX because Miller and the defunct production company have no money.

I feel really bad for the family, but that doesn't mean they are entitled to money from CSX, who appears blameless in this case. Money won't bring Ms Jones back, nor will it cause a modification of CSX's behavior.

Ron Travis · **Joined:** Sun May 15, 2005 2:22 pm **Posts:** 1543

According to news reports:

The parents of Sarah Jones contend that the CSX shares in the blame for their daughter’s death. They argue that the CSX has a duty to protect trespassers if the company observes the trespass occurring. To support this, they argue that CSX has rules requiring crews to report trespassers when they see them, and to respond by warning other trains to watch out for the trespassers. CSX crews failed to do that in this case.

The plaintiff attorneys also argue that the engineer of the train should have applied braking as soon as he saw the film crew and the hospital bed on the bridge approximately 33 seconds prior to reaching that point. The CSX stated that an emergency brake application would not have stopped the train before reaching the bridge and that it might have (or would have) derailed the train, thus possibly injuring the film crew.

The CSX also stated that a service application of brakes would have stopped the train two seconds after it passed the film crew.

co614 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 15, 2017 10:24 am

Sadly, this is exactly the kind of trial that gives the risk management folks at the class 1 railroads the ammo to argue forcibly against any public excursions ( especially steam) as it risks a jury finding the railroad guilty of promoting an " attractive nuisance" that will cause unsophisticated members of the public to be drawn into a "danger zone" and potentially hurt or worse.

The guilty party here has already been found guilty and served jail time. This trial is just another example of our over supply of lawyers and how litigious we've become.

Darn good thing we built this country before the lawyers and bean counters took over !!!

IMHO-Ross Rowland

Film crewman killed by train

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