Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Batman special effects man killed

A special effects technician working on the new Batman film was killed when a vehicle he was in crashed while on a stunt test run.

The accident happened off-set and there was no filming taking place, movie company Warner Bros Pictures said.

The victim was on a camera truck which was following a stunt vehicle, believed to have been the Batmobile.

An ambulance spokeswoman said he was pronounced dead at a test track in Longcross, near Chertsey, in Surrey.

Warner Bros said in a statement: "There was a fatal accident at a special effects facility for Batman: The Dark Knight.

"A technician on the film died when the truck he was in struck a tree following a test run.

"Warner Bros Pictures and the entire cast and crew of The Dark Knight are deeply saddened by this tragedy, and their hearts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased."

'Stunt driving'

The accident, just before 1450 BST on Monday, is being investigated by Surrey Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The HSE confirmed two vehicles were on a "filming production exercise".

A spokesman said: "It appears one vehicle was undertaking some stunt driving and another 4x4 provided the camera platform.

"The second vehicle and a camera operator were involved in a collision with a tree."

Batman: The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman, is due to be released in UK cinemas next summer.


Source: BBC News

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