Go Fund Me for Chris Cumberbatch : Please help him Recover

Our union brother and peer Scenic Artist Chris Cumberbatch went to work on a NY production film job when he was hit in the back by the elbow / base of the lift. We are starting this Go Fund me to help give Chris Cumberbatch the needed time to recover with one less item pressuring him to get back to work- his finances.

Chris was unloading/loading supplies from a nearby parked truck. A walk he had made several times prior in that workday. He waited on the sidewalk for the lift operator to reposition the lift, and when he thought it was safe he proceeded by the base of the lift. As he was passing, he heard our Grip Brother, Anthony Pannuccio (lift operator in the bucket) screaming. A rogue truck had careened past the roadblock, making the flagger dive out the way. This started a chain reaction of cars speeding down the road around the cones and towards the lift. The truck hit the blacked out boom, which had no flashing lights or reflectors. Upon impact the arm swung around several times and the base hit Chris in the back full force. This production did not have the extra presence of NYPD Movie Film Unit police, to aid in closing down Houston Street.

Our union Brother operating the lift was severely injured while exiting the machine. There is a go fund me page setup for Brother Pannuccio, link here: www.gofundme.com/f/wsk7qy-anthonys-road-to-recovery

The incident is being treated as a felony hit and run, since the truck sped away from the scene.

With shorter and shorter prep times, it is not unusual to be expected to work in between red lights on set. We pray and hope that this incident highlights a reality many of our crew members face - being asked to perform demanding and sometimes dangerous work without the full level of safety planning and protection that our employers must provide. The way this terrible accident occurred was mainly due to the production's negligence of safety protocols. Let this incident be a catalyst that brings greater awareness to the importance of safety for onset and offset crew members.

We know Chris for always being a light with laughter and talent in the room, we support you and want to see the light shine through again.

We are raising these funds to help with medical bills and everyday living costs while Chris focuses on healing and recovery. Any support - whether through a donation or simply sharing this page - would mean the world to us and his family.

Organized by Cathy Nasch and Monica Molinaro.