Advertisement

Gregg Allman, 'Midnight Rider' producers sued over camera assistant's train death

The family of Sarah Jones, a camera assistant who died during the filming of "Midnight Rider" has filed a wrongful-death suit against the filmmakers.

By Kate Stanton
Gregg Allman. UPI/Jim Ruymen
Gregg Allman. UPI/Jim Ruymen | License Photo

CHATHAM COUNTY , Ga., May 21 (UPI) -- In a lawsuit filed in Chatham County, Ga., on Wednesday, Richard and Elizabeth Jones say negligence claimed the life of their daughter, 27-year-old Sarah Jones, a camera assistant on the Gregg Allman biopic Midnight Rider.

Jones was struck by an oncoming train on February 20 when cast and crew were filming scenes on a trestle in Doctortown, Ga. Several other crew members were injured.

Advertisement

The Jones family has named Allman, the film's director, Randall Miller, multiple producers and CSX Transportation, the company that owns the railroad tracks and another company that owns the surrounding land, in the suit. The suit claims that the 18 defendants failed to follow safety precautions on the shoot and that producers did not have permission to film on the train tracks.

"Despite the fact that they planned to film a scene on active railroad tracks, and despite their knowledge of the danger presented by filming a scene on active railroad tracks, none of the Midnight Rider Defendants, or their agents, representatives, contractors, or employees, obtained the proper permission or approval from Defendant CSX to conduct filming on the trestle bridge," the suit reads.

Advertisement

"While the Midnight Rider Defendants knew that they did not have permission or approval from CSX to film on the railroad tracks, they concealed this fact from the rest of the Midnight Rider cast and crew, including Sarah."

The Jones family is seeking unspecified damages.

Local officials are also investigating the incident for possible criminal charges.

"All of us on the production team are devastated by the tragic accident that happened today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our crew member," Midnight Rider Productions said in a statement after Jones' death.

Latest Headlines