Disney Production Co. Guilty in 'Star Wars' Accident Involving Harrison Ford
July 26 2016 - 10:30AM
Dow Jones News
LONDON—A film-production company on Tuesday admitted health and
safety breaches over an accident on the set of "Star Wars: The
Force Awakens" that broke the leg of star Harrison Ford.
The actor was struck by a hydraulic door on the set of the
Millennium Falcon - his character Han Solo's spaceship - at
Pinewood Studios near London in June 2014. He was airlifted to a
hospital for surgery.
During a hearing at Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court in Britain,
prosecutor Andrew Marshall said the door "could have killed
somebody" had an emergency stop button not been hit. Britain's
Health and Safety Executive said the metal-framed door struck Ford
with a power comparable to the weight of a small car.
Foodles Production Ltd., which is owned by the Walt Disney Co.,
admitted two breaches of health and safety law, although its
lawyer, Angus Withington, said Foodles would contest the level of
risk involved.
The company will be sentenced next month.
Production on the film was suspended for two weeks after the
accident to Mr. Ford, who was 71 at the time.
"The Force Awakens" is the seventh installment in the space saga
and has taken more than $2 billion at the world-wide box office
since its release last year.
Filming is under way on the eighth Star Wars film, directed by
Rian Johnson and due for release in 2017.
Copyright 2016 Associated Press
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 26, 2016 10:15 ET (14:15 GMT)
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