Investigation into Movie Set Crash Concludes with No Safety Violations
An in-depth investigation into a crash that left several crew members injured on the set of the film “The Pickup” earlier this year has confirmed that no safety violations occurred, according to federal officials. A representative from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stated this week that their “thorough” investigation of Armored Film LLC, the production company behind the film, “did not result in violations of workplace safety and health regulations.” The investigation, which focused on the incident that took place at a small airport outside Atlanta on April 20, was officially closed last week.
Despite the serious nature of the incident, a spokeswoman for Amazon MGM Studios chose not to comment on the findings. At the time of the crash, eight crew members were rushed to local hospitals, with two sustaining life-threatening injuries after being ejected from a vehicle. A third individual also suffered serious injuries.
Sources with direct knowledge of the incident confirmed that none of the film’s prominent actors, including Pete Davidson, Eddie Murphy, and Keke Palmer, were involved in the crash. The storyline of “The Pickup,” described by Deadline as a heist comedy, remains undisclosed, and no release date has been officially announced.
Video footage of the crash, obtained by The New York Times, depicts a red armored truck, specifically a GMC C6, approaching a BMW X5 S.U.V. before it suddenly swerved into the latter. Following the collision, both vehicles veered off the road and onto the grass, resulting in the armored truck flipping onto the BMW. Remarkably, both vehicles landed upright, with the back door of the armored truck swinging open, causing one crew member to tumble out and scattering debris across the field.
According to police reports, the BMW was occupied by a single individual, the driver, while the armored truck carried seven people: a driver, a front-seat passenger, and five crew members who were secured in the back with belt restraints attached to the walls. Although the collision was pre-planned as part of the filming, complications arose when the armored truck’s brush guard became entangled in the wheel well of the smaller vehicle.
In the aftermath of the crash, there was uncertainty regarding whether emergency personnel or an ambulance had been present on set during the filming, although an ambulance was indeed summoned to the scene. Experts noted that it is standard practice to have an ambulance on set for potentially dangerous stunts.
Sean Miller, a spokesperson for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), released a statement on Thursday expressing appreciation for the diligent work conducted by OSHA’s Atlanta office. He stated, “IATSE members are the best in the industry and work hard to ensure their safety and the safety of those around them. This incident serves as a crucial reminder that all workers deserve to earn a living in a safe environment.”
