After the death of a crew member back in February, three filmmakers involved with the Gregg Allman biopic have been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
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According to Reuters, Midnight Rider director Randall Miller, his wife Jody Savin and executive producer Jay Sedrish were indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass on Thursday, July 3.
Sarah Elizabeth Jones, a camera operator on the film, was killed after being hit by a train after the crew set up on railroad tracks to film. Six others were also injured.
Charges in the case came because authorities said the film company, Unclaimed Freight Productions Inc., didn’t have permission to film on the property, or the tracks, when the crash happened. They did have permission to film nearby.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office investigated in the case.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, production on the film has since been stopped, and star William Hurt has pulled out of the filming. The star was on the set when Jones was killed.
“Elizabeth and I are comfortable that the authorities were both careful and meticulous in investigating and bringing charges related to the incident that took our daughter’s life,” said Richard and Elizabeth Jones, Sarah Jones’ parents, in a statement. “We must allow the criminal justice process to proceed unhindered. Our mission remains the same: to ensure safety on all film sets. Safety for Sarah.”
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Besides the criminal charges, Jones’ parents have also filed a civil lawsuit against the filmmakers for wrongful death of their daughter.
In Georgia, a charge of involuntary manslaughter can bring up to 10 years in prison. Criminal trespass is a misdemeanor and can bring up to 12 months in prison.
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