Producers cleared in Transformers 3 crash
By Alexandra Heilbron on October 14, 2010 | 17 Comments
Indiana officials say that Transformers 3 producers won’t be fined for the accident last month that left a young woman partially paralyzed and with permanent brain damage. Indiana Occupation Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) held an investigation into the September 1 accident and concluded that producers operated by the book when they coordinated the stunt that went wrong when a cable snapped, sending a piece of flying metal through the windshield of extra Gabriela Cedillo‘s car. IOSHA spokesman Marc Lotter told TMZ the accident occurred “due to the failure of a weld connecting a car to a cable. The weld was made by a certified welder and all necessary safety precautions were in place.” They added, “No citations or fines will be issued. This was an unfortunate and unforeseeable accident.” Cedillo’s family is suing the studio for damages.
Comments & Discussion
Similar Articles
I don’t think it means they can’t be found negligent in a court. They should still pay Gabriela a few million in damages, she’ll never be able to work again.
I agree. There are certain risks but I wonder if the weld was tested before it was put into the production. If not they might have grounds for an appeal.
@ Maddy I agree.
There shouldn’t be a need for any type of lawsuit or trial. If someone is injured doing a job for someone else because something goes wrong after EVERTHING that could be humanly done to ensure complete safety has been done and yet something goes wrong, just take care of whatever has to be taken care of for the remainder of the injured persons life without f’n lawyers getting involved. Lawyers care about ONE thing only…$$$in their pocket…and NOTHING else. I was a lawyer for 7 years and because of the BS I was asked to do, gave it up and I am now a Paramedic. I now enjoy waking in the morning and I just cringe when I am attending an accident scene and I hear,”I’m gonna sue”. Take care of her…it is the human thing to do, leave the law out of it.
You can only measure and visually inspect welds. Testing them means they are destroyed.
Just because the welder was certified doesn’t mean he did the job properly. If he did all that was required, then why did the cable snap? Maybe more should be required when people’s lives are at stake.
That’s a tough one. I feel for this girl and she should be compensated for it, but I find American Law is so outragious with settlements. I think the production company has some obligation for the safety of their “employees”, and they should have insurance for that kind of thing. I agree with Age A about the “I’m going to sue” scenario. It can get out of hand.
Though I agree society (American especially, but Canadian increasingly) is too litigious, but in a case as serious as this I think a thorough examination of all of the facts and legal issues at hand is certainly in order – this isn’t a rear-ender and “sore neck” we’re talking about here…
They should still give the girl a break! I mean, this movie is going to make a lot of money no matter how good or bad it turns out, so why don’t they just volunteer to share a bit with her. She’s not going back to work anytime soon because of the accident. Don’t companies have insurance for this sort of thing?
Sounds like the Occupation Safety and Health organization did a thorough investigation. This story seems to be developing every day, so I guess we will find out soon if she does get compensated.
The studio has insurance and likely will and should have to pay her. What’s the point of the lawsuit – other than money and exposure?
Its the way of the world. They are called accidents for a reason. Sorry isn’t good enough, people need to get rich and find someone to blame. I feel sorry for her, but I’m sure she signed a waiver before hand. Heck I have to sign a waiver just for putting my kids in recreational sports.
I’m kind of split on this one, on one hand the extras are knowing what type of movie they are getting themselves into here, and I do believe they sign a waiver or something. Now of course you are supposed to have a reasonable amount of expectation of safety. So on the other hand because of the severity of the wounds and the permanent brain damage, yes I think that she should darn well be compensated, especially living in the U.S, I know you guys have a really crappy healthcare system and disability system. I wish you had Canada’s system. So yes, I’d say compensate her, not just by throwing her a bone, I.E. $2 million, but by obviously paying every medical bill she will ever have because of this unfortunate accident, as well as supporting her financially for ( food, rent, and necessities). It’s easy to throw money at someone and wash your hands of it. We know that she will never be able to work again. Resposability does need to be taken.
As for the comment by Jodie, it doesn’t matter how well you weld something, it doesn’t always hold, sometimes the metal has imperfections that cause weakness in the weld, whether could effect it, obviously human error could, but let’s not throw him under the bus yet, movie companies don’t hire inexperienced personel when it comes to stunts and safety.
Myles & Cypher – you guys make some good points, I hadn’t thought about the waiver.
Ah America, where even if it’s your fault, IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT! Typical U.S. trash if you ask me that they don’t even want to help this person.
We don’t know they’re not helping her. Maybe they’re paying her hospital bills.
I agree with Bobo….in the US if anything goes wrong regarding your health you are GOOD AS DEAD…with just their healthcare system it’s a MAJOR embaressment that such a country of so much affluence has such a low tolerance to pain and suffering…no wonder the IRAQ war has lasted and is still draining so much of their resources and reputation of being a nation of greatness…I’m SO PROUD OF BEING 100% Canadian…with European roots in Italy and Belgium…USA is no longer the land of opportunity alright….and as for the crooked and indifferent world of show business…you know the saying the ” Show must go on” and so it does…regardless of anyone’s conscience…I just pray for the family of this BRAVE WOMAN and hope the GOOD LORD IS BY HER SIDE…MIRACLES DO HAPPEN and I know I had several happen in my life…thank goodness for our faith…human beings are fallable creatures and doomed to sin….our salvation lies in our SOULS…and I’m sure the Cedillo family will PULL TOGETHER AND SUPPORT one another…that’s all you can ask for…but YES I WOULD TAKE THEM DEEP…and the producers should PAY UP if they have a HEART…as little as it may be…that would be the ETHICAL thing to do….n’est pas??