The production company for the movie “Rust” was issued the maximum legal fine after Alec Baldwin accidentally fatally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The New Mexico Environment Department issued a “Willful-Serious citation” fine of more than $135,000 to Rust Movie Productions, LLC, for “plain indifference to the recognized hazards associated with the use of firearms on set that resulted in a fatality, severe injury, and unsafe working conditions,” Just the News reports.
As previously reported by Human Events News, last October, Alec Baldwin discharged a prop firearm on the set of “Rust,” leaving the film’s director of photography dead and the director injured.
Hutchins was killed and the director, Joel Souza, was injured.
The shooting at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico happened in the middle of a scene that was either being rehearsed or filmed.
The film's producers "failed to follow" film firearm guidelines or "take other effective measures to protect workers," the New Mexico agency wrote in the report Wednesday.
"By failing to follow these practices, an avoidable loss of life occurred," the department added.
"Our investigation found that this tragic incident never would have happened if Rust Movie Productions, LLC had followed national film industry standards for firearm safety," Environment Cabinet Secretary James Kenney said. "This is a complete failure of the employer to follow recognized national protocols that keep employees safe."
The production company has 15 business days to either pay the fine or contest the citation.
