Danger on set: Before ‘Rust,’ ‘Midnight Rider’ train killed staffer
- 'Midnight Rider' death: Father of victim talks 'Rust' similarities
- Sarah Jones struck by train, killed during filming in 2014
- Parents formed 'Safety for Sarah' to advocate for film safety
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(NewsNation) — Halyna Hutchins’ death on the set of Alec Baldwin’s “Rust” film is a tragic reminder that the stars and directors aren’t the only people involved in making movies.
Sometimes, it’s members of the crew who pay the price when things go wrong on set.
Sarah Jones, one of the camera assistants for the movie “Midnight Rider,” was killed while shooting a scene on a bridge trestle in 2014.
Without proper permits, a train unexpectedly approached the set, and the crew working had just seconds to flee to safety. The train fatally hit Johnson, and seven other crew members were injured.
Video of the incident was played in court, and prosecutors tried four of the film’s management team on involuntary manslaughter charges. The movie’s director, Randall Miller, spent a year in prison as a result.
Since the tragedy, industry accountability and safety have been goals for Johnson’s parents Richard and Elizabeth. They founded the organization “Safety for Sarah” in 2014, hoping memories of their daughter’s death will help to improve safety on film sets.
Richard Jones told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas that the “Rust” trial has brought up painful reminders of his daughter’s death.
“It felt like it happened again. It’s just sickening to my stomach, Richard Jones said during an appearance on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.” “Following the death of Sarah, we started the nonprofit with the fundamental idea of never forget what happened when safety was not a priority.
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