My brother, Anthony Panuccio, was recently involved in an accident while operating a boom lift on location in New York City, which left him and another film brother seriously injured.

Being expected to work in between red lights and without the presence of NYPD Movie Film Unit police, they closed down Houston Street to perform a quick maneuver to turn the machine around, something they do everyday. Unbeknownst to Anthony, a rogue truck had broken the lock up, forcing the flagger to dive out of the way, which started a chain reaction of cars speeding down the road around the cones. The truck hit the blacked out boom, which had no flashing lights or reflectors. The incident is being treated as a felony hit and run, since the truck speed away from the scene.

Anyone that knows Anthony knows how hardworking and dedicated he is to this industry and his craft. We pray that this incident highlights a reality many crew members face - being asked to perform demanding and sometimes dangerous work without the full level of safety planning and protection that productions should ensure. Let this be a catalyst that brings greater awareness to the importance of improving the safety standards for the off set crews working before shooting call in the middle of the night.

Anthony suffered a broken femur in two places, two broken ankles, internal bleeding and multiple lacerations. He has already had 2 surgeries and is facing a long road to recovery.

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