Stuntwoman Killed In Deadpool 2 Crash Was 1st African-American Female Road Racer [Condolences]

Stuntwoman Killed Was 1st African-American Female Road Racer

Very sad news. A stuntwoman named Joi “SJ” Harris, died on the set of Deadpool 2 on Monday. Harris, who billed herself as the first African-American female road racer, died while performing the motorcycle stunt in Vancouver. She also promoted herself as,

the first licensed African American women in U.S. history to actively compete in sanctioned motorcycle road racing events.

The Vancouver Sun reported that the accident occurred just after 8 a.m. on Monday. Witnesses told the outlet that the stuntwoman lost control of her bike during a stunt, jumped a curb and crashed through a plate-glass window at Shaw Tower. She was reportedly treated by ambulance personnel but police stated she died at the scene.

According to Metro News, the stunt driver narrowly missed hitting two pedestrians when she lost control of the bike. An eyewitness told the outlet that the stunt driver completed several rehearsals of the stunt, which involved driving a motorcycle down two ramps across several stairs, earlier that morning.

“She came out, went down the two flights of stairs, and it looked like she kind of hit the throttle because she picked up speed,” Nathan Kramchynski told Metro News.

“She was going full throttle,” he added, noting that it appeared as if the driver “missed two pedestrians” during the failed stunt.

Harris is said to be the stunt double for Zazie Beetz, whom Beetz plays the character Domino in the film. Ryan Reynolds, the film’s star, tweeted,

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.

Reportedly, this was Harris’s first film as a stunt performer. It is also reported that she was not wearing a helmet during the scene because her character does not wear a helmet.

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