Wild & Tragic Filming Accidents That Happened in Arizona

In the world of filming, Arizona has always been a popular state for tv shows, music videos, & movies. Sadly the state has also see its share of people getting hurt or even losing their lives while filming too. Thankfully it hasn't happened a lot recently but it definitely has happened before on these films & tv shows.

The Lost Patrol (1934)

Yuma, Arizona was one the places chosen for the filming of film, The Lost Patrol. Anyone who's been to Arizona KNOWS it gets very hot. According to the director, John Ford, he insisted that his cast & crew to work in the early morning or late afternoon, to avoid heat exhaustion.

The producer, Cliff Reid, insisted that everything was alright. To prove his point, he walked in the heat to discover...maybe not. He collapsed & was sent to the hospital for heat exhaustion. Apparently there were even more accidents that occurred during the filming of the movie.

Thankfully no one died during the movie. But the next ones aren't so lucky...

Vendetta dal futuro/Hands of Steel (1986)

In the making of the 1986 Italian movie "Vendetta dal futuro" (Hands of Stone), while shooting the helicopter scenes in Page, Arizona, one of the Bell 206-B helicopters crashed into the Navajo Bridge, killing the actor, Claudio Cassinelli. He died on July 13, 1985.

The Wraith (1986)

Another filming accident would happen in Arizona the same year, this time in Tuscon. While filming a car chase scene for the film, The Wraith. The car they were using was severely overloaded with people & equipment and the car rolled over on a mountain road. 7 people were injured but the assistant cameraman, Bruce Ingram, died from his injuries. As a result, the film was dedicated to the memory of Sir Bruce Stirling Ingram, who died at the age of 85.

I Dare You: The Ultimate Challenge (2000)

When filming for the television show, "I Dare You", stuntman Brad Michaels would attempt a hump that involved parachuting and landing on a non-moving train car in Benson, Arizona. Brady Michaels would slip from a ladder descending onto the train and fall 15 feet, hitting his head on rocks on the ground. Brady would be put in a coma and pass away after being taken off life support.. Brady Michaels was 36 years old.

Read More: The Texas Stuntman Who Was the First to Die On-Screen

Read More: Texas' Tragic Filming Accident from the 1920s

R.I.P. to all these people who died tragically.

Get our free mobile app