A motorcycle stunt rider has died on the set of the movie Deadpool 2 in Vancouver Monday morning.
Vancouver police confirmed the fatal accident in the area of Jack Poole Plaza and the Shaw Tower in downtown Vancouver.
The female rider was on a motorcycle when something went wrong, sending the motorcycle airborne and crashing through the glass of the Shaw Tower ground-floor studio around 8:20 a.m.
Scenes from the ‘Deadpool 2’ motorcycle crash **Warning: The following images may be disturbing to some viewers. **
It is believed she hit a post before the window and was travelling about 60 kilometres an hour.
Witnesses told Global News they did not hear the motorcycle braking before the incident.
“It was so out-of-control, it looked like an accident.”
WATCH: Deadpool 2 filming is on hold after a stunt involving a motorcycle went horribly wrong Monday morning.
The stunt woman’s name has not been released at this time.
Global News was on scene Monday morning, gathering more details about the fatal bus crash that happened in the area on Sunday, when the crew saw the stunt rider practising the stunt she was going to perform.
The rider successfully completed the stunt four times. However, during the fifth time, the throttle somehow engaged and that’s when the rider lost control of the bike.
Police and ambulance rushed to the scene. The rider was put in the back of an advance life support ambulance, which remained on scene for 45 minutes before leaving for the hospital without lights and sirens.
Shortly after, police confirmed the rider had passed away from her injuries.
WATCH: B.C.’s workplace safety watchdog is now investigating. Robin Gill reports.
Filming for the day has been shut down and there is no word on when it might resume.
Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds took to Twitter on Monday afternoon to offer condolences to the driver’s family.
“Today, we tragically lost a member of our crew,” Reynolds wrote.
“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.”
Jason Cameron, business agent of film, TV and new media for the Union of British Columbia Performers (UBCP/ACTRA), told CKNW he cannot confirm if the stunt performer was a member of the union. He did say the union is not involved in this investigation but is providing access to trauma counselling for cast and crew who were on set when the accident happened.
“So this morning, when we became aware of the incident, we sent one of our representatives to the set to speak directly with members and throughout the course of the day today we’ll be reaching out to ones that had already left set that they have access to that,” said Cameron.
He could not speak to Deadpool 2 specifically, but says in a case like this there typically would be a fairly long halt in production while an investigation is underway.
“Word is spreading very quickly,” Cameron added. “I think it’s obviously a very sad day, there’s probably a lot of people who are very upset and have lots of questions. We’ll just have to wait and see once the investigation is undertaken. And hopefully that will provide some answers to questions that at this point can’t be answered.”
Police and investigators remain in the area, which has been closed off to the public.
WATCH: Emergency crews work on scene Deadpool 2 accident
A major investigation is now underway and five officers from WorkSafeBC are on the scene.
Two officers are looking for immediate health and safety issues, while three are investigating the cause of the accident.
No one else was injured in the incident.
Deadpool 2, starring Ryan Reynolds, has been filming in Vancouver since late June. Several downtown streets have been closed since last week to shoot scenes involving motorcycles and scooters.
The last fatal accident involving a stunt person in B.C. was on Oct. 31, 1996 when a stunt performer jumped from a helicopter and his parachute failed to open during the filming of the movie Firestorm.
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