‘Rust’ Crew Member Bit by Poisonous Spider, May Lose Limb: Report

A crew member on the “Rust” film production was seriously injured while shutting down the set following the death of a cinematographer.

The New York Post and Sky News report that Jason Miller, a pipe rigger, was helping to close down the Santa Fe, New Mexico, film set following the death of Halnya Hutchins when he was bitten by a poisonous brown recluse spider.

According to a fundraising page cited by Sky News, Miller is facing grave complications from the venomous bite and is in danger of losing his arm.

“He has been hospitalized and endured multiple surgeries each day as doctors do their best to stop the infection and try to save his arm from amputation,” reads a message on the fundraiser page, according to the report.

On October 21, actor Alec Baldwin was preparing for a scene when the prop gun he was handling discharged and shot Halnya in the torso. She was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. The film’s director Joel Souza was also shot, but has since been released from the hospital.

The incident is under investigation and authorities have not brought any charges.

A representative for the film production declined to comment about the reports of another injured crew member.

 

[Feature image: A film set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch appears in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)]