Crew member of “9-1-1” died of heart attack after long shift and not an accident

Rico Priem

Courtesy of the Priem family

9-1-1 Crew member Rico Priem, whose death in May sparked new concerns about working hours on set, died of sudden heart failure, according to local authorities in Los Angeles. His body was found in his crashed vehicle after he had worked two consecutive 14-hour night shifts.

Priem, a lighting technician on the Fox series, died May 11 of sudden heart failure and cardiomegaly with left ventricular hypertrophy, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, which released the results of his autopsy this week. Priem’s ​​cause of death was ruled natural, the office said, and no alcohol or drugs were detected in his system at the time of his death.

The autopsy results refute his union’s suggestion that his death was due to drowsiness from overwork on the set of the show, which caused Priem to veer off the highway last month and die when the car crashed. After the news and circumstances of Priem’s ​​death became known, his union released statements suggesting the 66-year-old’s death was due to unsafe work hours.

“We are fully committed to the safety and well-being of all our members and extend our deepest condolences to the families of our members,” IATSE said in a statement. “Workers have a reasonable expectation that they will be able to get to and from work safely. No one should be put in unsafe circumstances while trying to earn a living.”

An IATSE union leader previously confirmed The Hollywood Reporter that Priem was a day player on 9-1-1 and his shift on Friday was his second consecutive 14-hour production day. He had left work shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday morning.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Priem’s ​​Toyota Highlander was found overturned and blocking the right lanes on Highway 57 in San Dimas; the accident was reported at about 4:27 a.m. Saturday. According to the CHP, Priem’s ​​vehicle left the road, plunged up an embankment and then rolled over on its roof. Priem was found dead at the scene.

In a statement following news of Priem’s ​​death, 20th Television said: “On behalf of the studio and all employees 9-1-1We send our sincere and deepest condolences to Rico Priem’s family and friends.”

IATSE is prioritizing issuing fines for long workdays and missed rest periods during its ongoing negotiations with studios and streamers after several accidents on sets this year. In February, JC “Spike” Osorio died when he fell from the rafters at Radford Studios while working as a rigger for Marvel’s. Miracle ManIn April, several crew members were injured during an action sequence on the set of Amazon-MGM Studios that did not go as planned. The loading wagonOSHA’s investigations into both incidents are ongoing.