Alec Baldwin (left) accidentally fired the shot that led to the death of Halyna Hutchins (right). — © reuters, rr
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The local government in the US state of New Mexico has concluded an investigation into the fatal shooting incident with actor Alec Baldwin on the set of the western ‘Rest’. The workplace safety agency fined the producers of the film the highest possible, as there was “total indifference to basic safety rules”.
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jvhBron: AP
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Camerawoman Halyna Hutchins was killed in October when Baldwin fired an incorrectly loaded pistol on the set of the film in New Mexico. It Occupational Health and Safety Bureau of New Mexico has Rust Movie Productionsthe company behind the production of the film, has now been fined the highest possible fine of USD 139,793 (about EUR 129,000).
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In a scathing report, the agency describes a culture on the set where normal safety rules were incessantly violated, even when the fatal incident involving Hutchins had two accidental gunfires. “The safety coordinator (David Halls, who wore a double hat as an assistant director, ed.) took no action. The producers were given multiple opportunities to intervene, but chose not to. As a result of that failure, director Joel Souza was seriously injured, and camerawoman Halyna Hutchins died.”
The report also confirms that Baldwin – who was also a producer himself – was handed a gun by the same Halls, without the weapons specialist on set being involved. There was also hardly any budget for specialized personnel, the crew’s reservations about this were even laughed away. “This tragedy, this death, could have been avoided,” the agency said.
The U.S. court is also conducting its own criminal investigation, which is still ongoing.
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