In 2014, on the first day of shooting the Biopic “Midnight Rider: The Gregg Allman Story,” the producer told the crew they had permission to set up a dream sequence on a train trestle. The shoot became a living nightmare when a CSX freight train came down the tracks at 56 miles per hour.
One of the film crew was killed, Sarah Jones, six others were injured.
The director, Randal Miller, plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and got 2 years with 8 months probation and a $20,000 fine (to protect his producer wife). Numerous other parties were sued with most settling, but not CSX.
A South Carolina jury handed down its award for the wrongful death of Sarah Jones yesterday. They felt the train should have braked when the engineer saw people on the bridge and that two previous freights that had passed earlier (before the crew set up their shot on the trestle) should have warned the trains behind them that people were near the tracks. They awarded nearly $4 million from CSX to the parents.
More on what happened that day and the days leading up to the accident Here
Based on the article I can’t figure out why CSX should be liable for anything. No doubt the lawyers will all make out like bandits.
I’m with Joe. It sounds to me like the producer didn’t have ANY permission to film on that bridge. And why was CSX liable?? The train crew should have seen people on the tracks and hit the brakes??? Bullshit!!! Traveling at 56 mph, the train crew couldn’t have seen anybody out there until it was too late. Plus braking a speeding freight train was NOT going to work – you can’t stop a train of any size running at that speed on a dime!! This is more legal insanity!! :^#
👁 HINDSIGHT TIP #101 👁
When you are about to be crushed by an oncoming train, LEAVE the damn bed, end table, and anything else weighing you down and RUN FOR YOUR DAMN LIVES!
Morons. Morons everywhere.
Yes, we were stupid, but someone HAS TO PAY!!!
They didn’t even have permission to be ON THE TRACKS!!!!
I’m sorry the girl died but this is ridiculous!
I think I’ll just go listen to that tune on my back deck a sip at a Drambuie. To many idiots, not enough bullets.
trains are easy to track, send a person with cellphone and 2way radio system a mile or 2 up the tracks both ways, have a radio person with film crew check comm both ways before trespassing. no reason for anybody to get hurt, also if train tracker would croud the track the train whistle would have been a third warning method
I have a family member that works for one of railroad companies so I’m sadly not surprised by this. His company lost a suit by someone killed trying to cross the tracks with the crossing “bars” down and the train coming because the lawyers claimed that the sun was wrongfully in the eyes of the driver and that the tracks should have been designed to run such that the sun could never blind anyone trying to cross the tracks.
In another case, a couple of teenagers cut chain link fencing to illegally enter an elevated “double” rail bridge (2 side by side tracks about 100 feet over the Tennessee River). They were drunk and jumping from one set of tracks to the other when one of them fell to his death (as testified to by the surviving teen). The parents of the dead teen sued the railroad with their lawyers claiming that the huge warning signs and chain link fencing were not enough deterrent to prevent someone from gaining access to the dangerous set of elevated tracks. The railroad lost that case too.
The juries seem to feel that the evil corporate entity has deep enough pockets so it really won’t hurt them if they lose a few million dollars to soothe the members of a devastated family.
What is the point of “We The People” having the Constitutional right to take someone’s money, for no more reason than we say so, if we never take someone’s money for no more reason than we say so?
I drove a huge locomotive for two years. Most people simply cannot understand what it takes to stop a moving train weighing several million pounds.
Drambuie!, Brad you’re starting to win me over, I’ve been sipping it for years off and on.
I recommend Hell Bound Train by Savoy Brown
Clann mhic Labhrainn
Either one best served at night watching an approaching thunder storm on you back deck/patio.
Love that name pal.
Play silly games, win stoopid prizes.
The stoopid shall be punished.
The producer is a lying sack of shit that caused death and injury – for what, exactly?
Punishment was not severe enough.
If CSX gave the permission, then CSX should be at fault for not putting out the word.
CSX denied permission twice. CSX not at fault.
Is there a Rachel Corrie Award due someone?
Yes, Hellbound Train is a great one, also Mystery Train, a traditional arrangement, however my fav has always been the version by John Hammond Jr.
These idiots took their time getting off that bridge. And they should have abandoned the hospital bed and other shit and beat feet to get out of the way.
CSX got screwed by the lawyers and the judge, merely because they were the ones with the deep pockets.
If they’d have known ahead of time they were fucked regardless of the evidence, CSX’s lawyers should have taken a Rodney Dangerfield approach to the case, “hey! you scratched my anchor!”
Saw this story on ID channel a couple of weeks ago. Sad the young videographer was killed. However, the show made it quite clear that CSX repeatedly denied permission for them to film on the tracks or on the bridge where the injuries occurred.
Additionally the show also pointed out that nearby was an unused railroad track and bridge.
NO way CSX should have to pay, and the director and producer of the movie should have been given a much longer sentence.
The producer should be sued, not CSX