Gregg Allman Biopic Producers Cited for Safety Violations
Roughly six months after a horrific accident on the set that ended in the death of a crew member, the producers of the Gregg Allman biopic 'Midnight Rider' have been cited for safety violations.
ABC News Radio reports that the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has concluded that the production company behind the project, Film Allman LLC, is guilty of "one willful and one serious safety violation for exposing employees to struck-by and fall hazards." According to the report, the citation comes with nearly $75,000 in proposed fines.
Referencing the accident that killed camera operator Sarah Jones during the filming of a dream sequence on a train track, OSHA rep Dr. David Michaels explained the ruling in a press release, saying, "It is unacceptable that Film Allman LLC knowingly exposed their crew to moving trains while filming on a live track and railroad trestle."
OSHA's ruling is separate from the criminal proceedings currently being brought against three of the filmmakers involved in 'Midnight Rider,' including producer/director Randall Miller, co-producer Jody Savin, and executive producer Jay Sedrish, all of whom face involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing charges. Jones' family has also sued the producers, as well as Allman, the film's distributor, and the landowners responsible for the property where the accident occurred.