‘Deadpool 2’ accident a rarity in industry that takes precautions: stunt pros
TORONTO — Monday’s deadly crash on the set of “Deadpool 2” in Vancouver was a rarity in an industry that takes extreme precautions to ensure safety, say stunt professionals, who nevertheless accept there is always an element of risk involved.
“Most of us know each other and everybody was shocked, because this stuff just doesn’t really happen, in Canada, anyway,” says Neven Pajkic, a 39-year-old Toronto-based stunt performer whose credits include Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming film “The Shape of Water” and the TV series “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
“It just doesn’t happen and it’s heartbreaking.”
Joi (SJ) Harris, a 40-year-old female stunt driver from New York, died after her motorcycle crashed into a window of a building during production. Details have not emerged as to exactly what happened but some witnesses said she appeared to lose control of the vehicle.