The cast and crew of Power are mourning one of their own today. The Starz series has shut down production on its sixth season following the death of a crew member. The ultimately fatal accident took place on location, where filming was set to take place.
The car-related accident occurred in the early hours of the morning on Monday. Pedro Jimenez, 63, was setting up parking cones for a location shoot in Brooklyn when an SUV struck him. That SUV was being driven by a fellow crew member for Power.
The NYPD is currently investigating the accident. Early details describe a heartbreaking tragedy. Talking to The New York Post, a witness to the aftermath of the tragic scene described the driver being incredibly distraught in the wake of the fatal collision.
Pedro Jimenez had been a familiar face on the set of the Starz drama. He had been a long-time part of Power's production. He worked on the series ever since it initially began production years ago. Starz has released a statement to Deadline in the wake of Jimenez's passing. That statement read:
We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of the members of our Power family. Our thoughts are with Mr. Jimenez' family as we work to fully understand what has happened.
None of Power's cast members were reportedly on the set at the time of the tragic accident. They were scheduled to arrive on set a few hours later at 7 AM ET. The collision occurred around 4:30 AM ET. In light of Pedro Jimenez's passing and the pre-planned break for the holidays, production may hold off on resuming until early next year.
Accidents involving crew members are rare but not unheard of. Just a few months ago, a crew member working on Tom Hanks' Mr. Rodgers movie died following a two-story fall from a balcony. At the time, it was believed that crew member's fall was caused by a medical emergency.
Deaths on the sets of movies and television have often involved stunt performers, as was the case for the action-focused film, Deadpool 2. Stunt performer Joi Harris died following a motorcycle accident. Last year, a stuntman on The Walking Dead perished after a fatal fall on the set of the AMC series.
Crew members tasked with setting up areas for filming are similarly faced with hazardous tasks. Whether further protocols will need to be taken to prevent an accident in the future, time will tell.
Power is in the midst of filming its sixth season. The series follows Omari Hardwick's James "Ghost" St. Patrick. He leads a double life as a nightclub owner and a drug kingpin. Recent news opened the door to potential spinoffs of the mega-popular show. Power is expected to return in the new year. An exact premiere date has not been set yet.
