Hair Stylist Recalls Day 'Midnight Rider' Camera Assistant Died
- Posted on 21 March, 2015
- Hair Styling
- By Anonymous
Act 1: Sarah Jones was killed when a freight train sped over the film set on a Georgia train trestle.
Imagine what it's like to see: death approaching 37 railroad cars barreling toward you no time to stop you're about to see it for real, incredible video released. Just last week after this story, you may never watch a movie the same way again. Here'S chris connolly here in the town of Jessup and historic legal confrontation between the state of georgia and an independent film director, Randall Miller, accused along with three other producers and crew supervisors of involuntary manslaughter. Mr. Johnson, you ready to persuade just last week a courtroom showdown with all of Hollywood Boncuk to determine if Randall Miller would become the first director in the history of the movie business to go to jail or a death on the set. Specifically, this set this outdoor location just five miles away: a century-old train trestle on February 20th, 2014. A movies first scene would quickly turn into a place of real-life horror kept saying over and over though it helped us, god help us captured on this 17. Second, video. First revealed in court members of the film crew running for their lives, as a locomotive bears down on and on that crew. This young woman filled with bright promise would suffer an all but unimaginable fate for doing the job she loved. She fell in love with the camera. She was Sarah Jones raised in South Carolina without showbiz connections. She earned her film crew stripes during an internship in Charleston on army wives, as her parents, Richard and Elizabeth remember. Why do you think she was drawn to the camera? To put he it's a challenge of it. I think I think it for the. For the most part, it's man's world - and I think that was a little bit of a challenge to a competition. Sarah Jones would become a camera assistant. The last sight, the camera would see before a scene begins for multiple seasons on The Vampire Diaries. Skye doesn't know that you're a vampire, let's keep such Sarris as Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder knew Sarah well. The first time I saw her. She was literally right in front of my face. She was doing this late, but you couldn't help but notice. Sarah Jones, great just always wanted to be around her. She always had a smile on her face within was just the uber professional even on the vacation. She loved Sarah Jones like setting up her shots just so she wanted to do bigger things. Go to new countries. Work on features and get her name out there. Sarah took her own fateful path. Taking a camera assistant, gig based out of Savannah on the movie Midnight Rider based on the memoir by gregg allman of the Allman Brothers starring Oscar winner, William Hurt Midnight Rider, would be an independent film, written produced and directed by this man. Randall Miller Sara mentioned to me that it is a low-budget film. She was a little bit surprised that some of the people did not have the level expertise that she expected in February 20th cast and crew drove to this location in doctor town, Georgia. Among those arriving with Sara and hairstylist joist gilyard, I was told that it wasn't actual principal photography. The actual day was supposed to spawn. Shooting was going to be that Monday, but once they got there, the crew realized Randall Miller, wanted to shoot a full see a dream sequence in which gregg allman from his hospital bed ceases. Late brother guitarist Wayne ohm across the bridge, shooting began on the side of the tracks. Then after two trains passed by it came time to set up for the day's money, show 30 feet above the water. According to one of our witnesses that Randall Miller said moved the bed up on to the tracks after the two trains had come by hospital bed playing across the tracks not running with the tracks, but across the track. Boji, an accomplice, the photographer on the set was calls that it was the star who dared to ask the most important question. There was concern from William and he did voice that concern. He asked if another train came, how much time would we have to get off the tracks? We would have approximately 60 seconds. I was more or less sixty Seconds to get off the track and I started praying I mad at myself because I didn't there was no onset medic, there were no railroad officials president to takes of the scene were in the can then just before 4:30 p.m. that's When they yelled that there was a train coming and there was a sort of a pause - and I saw the train and you just immediately started - whining CSX train q, one two five one: nine with two locomotives and thirty seven freight cars barreling down the track at An estimated 57 miles per hour, I saw the light of that train. It was like the train was right here, so you had seconds to figure out what you were gon na. Do Gaston crew had to run toward the oncoming train along this narrow pathway to save their lives? This extraordinary video captures the stream of the fast approaching trains, horn, Randall Miller and other crew members frantically tried to gank the hospital bed off the tracks. We need to see it fall apart, it seemed to be so far away and then all of a sudden, despite it, was almost like a explosion, and I realized that I could not get to Lyon. That'S when I ran to the side and held on to the iron girder and I prayed - I didn't get hit by the train - that the pressure playing from the train was a go strong, that holding onto the girder. I wasn't able to look overly off. The train struck Joyce Gillard's, left arm after smashing into the hospital bed Joyce close to Ron and believe what was happening, thought about dying and my family. Getting that call the trains impact had snapped a bone in Joyce's left arm. Blood poured from the womb, Joyce opened her eyes. Once more. Sarah was the first person I saw. She was lying on the side of the track stacked. You didn't know it was her. I received a phone call from one of the her friends. He said Sarah's no longer here I said: what do you mean? You mean I wasn't dead. She said yes ma'am, it was rough. I mean I took the wind out of very, very, very hard. Sarah Jones was 27 years old hours later the phone rang again. It was the director of Midnight, Rider, Randall Miller College. That day he was very upset. He was crying, he was nearly hysterical and he was he was saying, I'm so so sorry, he couldn't say much more than that, but why had Randall Miller allowed his crew to shoot on live Trax? Sarah Jones's parents and police demand answers. Did he have permission? He had been told, don't go on those tracks and he did anyway and footage from a camera mounted on. The locomotive shows another side of those last horrifying moments and new footage obtained just hours ago, as this movie turns real a scene, the filmmakers never meant to shoot stay with us.
Comments
SkyKing: CSX told you no twice. Im heartbroken she was killed that man is guilty as hell.
grungecraic: this is so so so sad. my film professors do seminars on set safety and they always talk about this incident. that apparently the people in charge kept reassuring the crew that no more trains were coming and pushing for the shoot despite not having the clearance to even film there. i don't think a lot of people understand the hierarchy that occurs on a film set....a lot of the time the people in charge make a crew feel like they can't speak up especially since a lot of the time ur next job depends on a recommendation and word of mouth, especially if ur still making a name for urself....again, so so sad and many prayers n thoughts to her family and everyone who was injured. no shot is worth the lives of anyone.
Wanton Fleetchur: Safety for Sarah! Anyone who criticizes Sarah Jones and her decision has not worked in the film industry. It’s unfortunate she died and it’s sad that’s what it takes for production to realize the real dangers they put us in. Shame on them for risking lives for “the shot”. If you can’t afford to own the track then get a different shot. Rest In Peace Sarah. You did not die in vein.
Sweet Princesa C: This reminds me of recently crossing a train track, right when I was on the tracks, the bells when off and I looked to my left and the train was right there. In my head I was like “why weren’t the arms down or the alarm sooner” it was legit RIGHT THERE! Like ten seconds, and the arm was still up enough for my car to pass.
jarrod williams: This train bearing down on them and I'm not even sure they had 60 seconds.the director knew what he was doing yet he did it anyway so he's a criminal.he didn't mean for her to die but she did.
Matt Kustom Kostumes: This one hit home in Charleston. I was an extra on Army Wives. I might have seen Sarah on the set but I don’t remember her. I just remember lots of local people talking about this tragedy when it happened.
carrue ross: This is horrifying. I remember reading about this in the news. God bless! ⭐️
QueenEdgy: Thats why I don't play on train tracks ever!
Lisa Monroe: Mannnnn just heart breaking this mannnnn I'm speechless he was dead wrong for still going on those tracks after being told no
J A: First and foremost, if the railroad says no, you don’t do it. Period. Second, if they would have said it was ok, you need to take other safety precautions. Having someone with some railroad knowledge is a must. I noticed in the video there was a block signal nearby. They will tell you when a train is approaching soon. Plus, they should have had a scanner to alert them as well. Crews call out mile post numbers while en route.
Megan Allen: This is so heartbreaking
Neptune Dawn: 60 miles per hour is the same as 88 feet in one second. Think about it!
Dolores Day: I s2g this happened in GA, right? I live in GA, and I SWEAR there is an inactive train track bridge (it's been discontinued for years and isn't connected to any active track) they could've shot on. Like, I know that's not useful info now, but I get angry thinking, "They would've had a safe, simple place to film." It's a bridge (now in disrepair) that sits in an overgrown area on the side of the highway. Like?? A woman died and another one broke her arm and was traumatized for life when there was a safe alternative less than a day's drive away?
Kengozin - Ken goes in: RIP Sarah
Anthony Nichols: Why couldn't they just film this scene in a studio and use green screen? It would have made production a lot easier and it would have keep the production them safe and Sarah Jones would have still been alive today if they did that. Man, some people have no common sense for safety, hope Randall Miller learn his lesson, he is the one at fault for costing her her life and putting everyone in danger. CSX told them twice they were not allowed to film on the bridge, but they did anyways. R.I.P Sarah Jones.
PARALEE CULBERT: Why would they film a movie on a still running train????.
Nicole moeller gonzalez: And that's why strong unions are important, to defend the health and rights of workers and allow them to negotiate safe conditions
ibrahim barry: 60 seconds to get off the trestle. I watched the camera from onboard the locomotive. That train arrived on the trestle 26 seconds after it was spotted.
David May: So sad.
P D: William Hurt obviously knew they didn't have permission if he's asking how long they have if a train comes. Plus any company that allows you to film on their infrastructure would have had a pile of people there to make sure you didn't do anything to their equipment plus they would have demanded that you had hard copies of the permissions on site ready to produce. Any veteran person working on this shoot was willfully ignorant imo.
Ten Ring: This was terrible But I don’t understand why CSX is responsible? They told these guys to stay off the tracks??
Alucard Hellsing: All these evil power hungry ego maniacs reminds me about one of the worst accidents to have taken place in a Hollywood set ''TWILIGHT ZONE ACCIDENT''. They always get away with murder.
Obscure Entertainment: 0:13, you clearly don't watch that many movies lovey.
Sean Bond: 5:19 Ummm hey narrator: as a rail official myself, none of us are going to be “present” to allow something like that.
Mariah Doby: That was scary o.o
Laserz: Sure enough I saw movies the same way
Shelbyville Rules: Obviously they shouldn’t have been filming there at all without permission but why did nobody at least think to send someone up the track a ways with a walkie-talkie to give them a bit more than 60 seconds warning.
Robloc 103: This is a great story, but when did the event happen, and when was it on tv?
Eric: The Allmans brothers have a powerful curse on them. Not even kidding.
GetReady4LiftOff: The deceased face seen standing there
Robloc 103: Where is part 2?
Dirty Harry: People blame CGI but this is one of the reasons it's so used in movies today.
Les Anderson: This man is guilty and got away with a slap on the wrist!
Americanhoney: This is sad so apparently she was not hit by the train but the bed they were moving the train hit that and it flew apart and hit her thus killing her very very sad ugh breaks my heart :(
Kelsey Mariel: I hope ABC News does a similar show about what happened on the set of Rust when Alec Baldwin shot a live round and killed Halyna Hutchins.
Laura Cyborski: Are there any plans to complete the movie? with 'William hurt as the star, I think it would be an excellent movie about the brothers
Kat Ciciretti: Didn’t Dwayne allman also die at age 27
C Coleman: What day should have did was left all that s*** and hauled ass and just dealt with a big ass fine or something you know
PARALEE CULBERT: So they knew the train was still in operation.u all put ur selfs in danger.
Emmanuel: Horror stories
Truth Told Not 💲old: If you're not railroader than you have NO IDEA what it means to walk on tracks or that ballast! U just don't walk regularly like you do on flat concrete, such as a side walk or street. The public can never understand our profession! Yall ever hear the term "I have been railroaded"? Y do y'all think?! It's an industry unlike any other! Listen 57 mph for an engine is MOVING with such force! STAY OFF THE TRACKS PPL!
Lacian McArthur: So Sarah was in pieces?
Eric Abplanalp: Sue the railroad ?
S M: I don't understand why they didn't jump off the bridge. It's because they were trying to save equipment.
XTempest: (NOTE: haven't watched whole thing yet) Couldn't they have just jumped off the bridge?
Ryan’s Colorado Rail Productions: I have a video about this on my channel.
Roy Rice: Who had access to that gun before they walked off the set?
Megan Allen: What nina and ian say
Chris Morrison: The greed on that demon woman.
Jon Jukes: Hey guys, I've stood close to moving freight trains. The air pushes you away, however they were moving a little slower than 57 MPH. The stylist is saying the train's air was pulling her back...
Nour Shokr: What happen to cgi?
tammybell60: Where was the common sense!??
Fuller FRC: Oh is this the black woman who is suing the landowners, rail road company, bridges within 10 mile radius, also had the cows served for her law suit. I’m sorry this is such a sad deal but the black woman trying to fill her pockets from the landowners is just fucking sick. Fire the hair stylist.
GMar: Awful. Just awful. Not enough safety measures were taken obviously. And the Director is responsible for that. This should never have happened. This is a modern day twilight zone situation that should never have happened. Randall Miller if you read this comment, you had the experience to know better!
Matt P: To bad Spiderman wasn't there to stop the train.
nizmojoeblows: most people would have jumped and left the fucking bed there.
since 1995: Why is she talking like it's exciting...
Fuller FRC: The wind is so strong my feet were in the air. Grace closed her eyes… REALLY! Don’t close your eyes Joice whatever your name is!!
limelight NY: If people can survive jumping golden gate Bridge my ass would of jumped. Instead there trying to move a hospital bed like there going to derail a csx train
AI: Plays on train tracks... blames train... OK.
Mil mil: So why the hell would you need a hair stylist on the railroad track to begin with ? And what does nearby land owners go to do with anything.?..why are they being sued by her. ?...they should sue her for trespassing and the railroad should sue as well..All Railroad property is posted as no trespassing...
Travis Ryno: That woman is suing the Train owner, the land owner, and everyone else she can. What a money grubber
A Ant: She knew the risks and unfortunately, died for it. I don't see any room for blame. Everyone else got out of there in time, so if anything, she was at fault.