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New Video Shows Terrifying Moments Before 'Midnight Rider' Train Crash
A newly-released video shows the chilling final moments before a freight train plowed through a trestle where the Midnight Rider crew was filming, leading to the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones.
In the terrifying 17-second clip, crew members, including one of the film's stars, Wyatt Russell, can be seen scrambling to move their set pieces, which include a prop hospital bed and table, as the sound of a train horn is blaring. The sound of the horn gets louder and then the video cuts out.
The film crew had been using the trestle to shoot a dreamlike sequence where actor William Hurt, who portrays musician Gregg Allman in the biopic, finds himself on a hospital bed on a train trestle in Georgia.
The video was played during a Tuesday court hearing where Hillary Schwartz, Midnight Rider's first assistant director, was found guilty of criminal trespass and involuntary manslaughter, according to Variety. She's been sentenced to 10 years of probation as part of a plea agreement.
Earlier this week, the film's director Randall Miller pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Jones' death. Miller was sentenced to 10 years but he will only serve two years as a part of the plea agreement since this is his first offense. Charges against Miller's wife, Jody Savin, who served as a producer on the film, were waived. Executive producer Jay Sedrish was sentenced to 10 years of probation, a $10,000 fine and is also barred from directing or doing any job in film that involves the safety of employees.
Jones, 27, was killed and seven others injured during the first day of shooting on Feb. 20, 2014 when a freight train plowed through a trestle in Jesup, Georgia. The railroad company said it had denied filmmakers permission to film there, but it wasn't clear who knew about the denial or allowed crew to film on the trestle. Jones and the crew were on the trestle constructing set pieces when the train came through, and they didn't have enough time to get out of the way. Jones was killed when a piece of debris knocked her into the path of the oncoming train.
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Members of the TV and film industry brought attention to Jones' death and the safety practices for crew members during filming.
Related:
'Midnight Rider' Director Pleads Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter In Sarah Jones' Death
'Midnight Rider' Filmmakers Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter In Sarah Jones' Death
Mugshots: 'Midnight Rider' Filmmakers Surrender To Police In Sarah Jones Case
In Honor Of Sarah Jones, Crew Members Vow To Boycott 'Midnight Rider'
Sarah Jones' Story: Camera Assistant Killed On The Job Is Honored At The Oscars
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