Showrunners hurt in car accident on set of new Gabrielle Union show; production halted
Two showrunners, one African American, were hurt in an accident during the shooting of 'L.A.'s Finest', according to published reports. California safety officials are investigating
Authorities have temporarily shut down production on Gabrielle Union’s upcoming new show L.A.’s Finest while they investigate an accident that injured showrunners Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis.
Both men suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries last Thursday when a stunt car at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Calif., crashed into a cargo crate, which then smashed into the area where both were watching the filming on monitors, Deadline Hollywood and ET report. Sonnier and Margolis were taken to hospitals. Sonnier has been transferred to another facility while Margolis was released, according to Deadline.
Sonnier, who suffered more serious injuries, is one of the few Black showrunners in Hollywood, according to the Atlanta Black Star. The 36-year-old Houston native also has worked with The Blacklist, according to IMBD.com.
The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation into Mesquite Productions, a company under the umbrella of Sony Pictures TV, Deadline reported.
The series that stars Union along with Jessica Alba was due to premiere May 13 0n Spectrum and was in the final days of shooting its first season. It was being hailed as Spectrum’s first original series and is a spinoff from the Bad Boys movie franchise.
The show follows the fictional Sydney Burnett, the character played by Union in Bad Boys 2 with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
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Sony Pictures Television issued a statement quoted by ET.
“Our hearts go out to our SPT family members who were injured and we pray for a full recovery,” SPT president Jeff Frost and co presidents Chris Parnell and Jason Clodfelter said in the statement.
Spectrum Originals also issued a statement, published by Atlanta Black Star.
“We are saddened by this incident and send our most heartfelt wishes to our two beloved crew members, hoping their recovery is both swift and complete,” Katherine Pope, the head of Spectrum Originals, said in the statement.
