New Details Emerge About Fatal ‘Deadpool 2’ Accident

An initial report has been released regarding the death of stuntwoman Joi “SJ” Harris, who tragically passed away while filming Deadpool 2 last week in Vancouver.

The investigative report from WorkSafeBC, British Columbia’s statutory agency, explains the details of the accident, as obtained by Deadline.

…A temporary worksite had been setup to record a film scene for a movie production. The site had been cordoned off from general public and traffic by the Vancouver Police Department. The worker had been rehearsing a stunt scene that involved driving a motorcycle, Dictate 939 Hyperstrada, out of the open doors of a building, across a concrete pad and down a ramp that had been built over three stairs and coming to a stop on the stair landing. During the first shooting of the scene the stunt driver continued driving beyond the planned stopping spot on the stairway landing, and continued to drive down a second ramp built over the bottom stairs and across the roadway. The motorcycle struck the concrete sidewalk curb, the worker was thrown off the motorcycle and propelled through a plate glass window of a building.

Harris would eventually succumb to the injuries suffered while filming the stunt, which she’s said to have completed at least five takes before the accident. Harris was not wearing a helmet while performing the stunt.

In the maneuver, which was never more than 15 kilometers per hour – [a little less than] 10 miles an hour – she rode on a flat surface through two open doors and then turned left and went out of camera range,” a source close to the production said. “Her exit was a safety ramp to a big platform where the bike was supposed to stop, but she overshot the platform, hit a curb, and was thrown from the bike through a glass window.

Though this was her first stunt performance, Harris was an experienced rider with a professional racing background.

A source told Deadline rumors of Harris being unqualified to perform the stunt were untrue.

“To say an unqualified person was put in this position is absolutely untrue,” said the source. “She was the best candidate for the job.”

Production has since restarted after a 48-hour temporary stop. Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds lead a moment of silence with the crew in memory of Harris before the shoot began.

After the accident, Reynolds took to social media where he wrote, “Today, we tragically lost a member of our crew while filming Deadpool. We’re heartbroken, shocked, and devastated… but recognize nothing can come close to the grief and inexplicable pain her family and loved ones must feel in this moment. My heart pours out to them — along with each and every person she touched in this world.”

Deadpool 2 is scheduled to hit theaters June 1, 2018.