Stunt Woman Killed on ‘Deadpool 2’ Set ID’d as First Black Female Road Racer

Jack Phillips
By Jack Phillips
August 15, 2017US News
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Stunt Woman Killed on ‘Deadpool 2’ Set ID’d as First Black Female Road Racer
Joi Harris (Facebook)

The stunt woman who died on the set of Deadpool 2 on Monday was identified as Joi “SH” Harris, the first black female professional road racer.

Deadpool 2 was the first movie Harris worked in as a stunt driver. Alliance of Canadian Cinema confirmed her identity to Deadline, although Harris is not a member of the union.

Witnesses saw Harris lose control of her motorcycle while filming a stunt at around 8 a.m. on Monday. The motorcycle jumped the curb and crashed into the first-floor plate-glass windows of Shaw Tower, a landmark skyscraper in Vancouver, Canada.

Harris practiced the stunt successfully several times before the tragic accident. She was not wearing a helmet at the time because the character she was portraying, Domino, did not wear a helmet in the scene, Comic Book reported.

Domino is played by Zazie Beetz. Beetz was seen riding a black Ducati motorcycle in Vancouver last week—the same motorcycle model as the one seen lying on the sidewalk following the crash on Monday.

Witnesses did not hear any breaks before the crash. First responders treated Harris, but she died at the scene, according to police.

The production for “Deadpool 2” was immediately suspended with not date set for when it will resume. The movie was scheduled to hit theaters on June 1, 2018.

Ryan Reynolds, the star of the film, posted a heart-wrenching message about the accident.

“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,” Reynolds wrote.

The movie’s director, David Leitch, also issued a touching statement.

“I’m deeply saddened by the loss of one of our stunt performers today. No words can express how I and the rest of the Deadpool 2 crew feel about this tragedy. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and loved ones in this difficult time.” – Leitch said.

Fox, the production company, also lamented the loss.

“We are deeply saddened by the accident that occurred on the set of Deadpool 2 this morning. Our hearts and prayers are with the family, friends, and colleagues of our crew member during this difficult time.”

From NTD.tv

RELATED:

Stunt Woman Dies After Crashing Motorcycle Into Skyscraper on Set of ‘Deadpool 2’

By Ivan Pentchoukov

A stunt woman died on the set of the Deadpool 2 movie on Monday after crashing a motorcycle through the windows of a skyscraper.

Witnesses say the stunt driver lost control of her bike while filming a stunt at around 8 a.m. The motorcycle jumped the curb and crashed into the windows of Shaw Tower, a landmark skyscraper in Vancouver, Canada, Page Six reported.

First responders treated the woman, but she died at the scene, according to police.

“We are deeply saddened by the accident that occurred on the set of Deadpool 2 this morning,” a representative for 20th Century Fox said.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of our crew member during this difficult time.”

The stunt was performed successfully twice on Monday before the fatal accident, according to Nathan Kramchynski, an eyewitness who spoke to Toronto’s Metro.

“We were kind of shocked,” Kramchynski said. “We didn’t know if there was padding, if there was a reason why that happened.”

One local told Metro she was in a nearby Starbucks when she heard a loud crash. When she ran outside she saw a woman inside the Shaw Tower building with her head hanging outside and glass still falling on her body.

The woman’s name has not yet been released. She was performing a stunt for actress Zazie Beetz, who was playing the role of Domino in the movie.

Beetz was seen riding a black Ducati motorcycle in Vancouver last week—the same motorcycle model as the one seen lying on the sidewalk following the crash on Monday.

Witnesses did not hear any breaks before the crash.

“People were running on the sidewalk, the motorcycle comes flying across the street, looks like from a ramp because it was in the air,” a witness told Global News.

“(She) standing on the bike, slams into that building, clearly hit and out-of-control and clearly not planned.”

The Vancouver Police Department and the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia are investigating the crash.

Deadpool 2 is the sequel to a blockbuster released in 2016 produced by Marvel Comics. The movie is set to release on June 1 next year. The crew has been filming scenes with scooters and motorcycles in downtown Vancouver since June 26.

Vancouver is the hometown of Deadpool’s star, Ryan Reynolds. Last week, the actor tweeted a photo of himself with about two dozen Vancouver police officers, thanking them “for putting up with road closures and traffic delays.”

From NTD.tv

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