"Batman" film technician dies in accident

By Andrew Hough

LONDON (Reuters) - A special effects technician involved in the filming of the new Batman movie has died in a car accident, the film's producers said on Tuesday.

An investigation has been launched after the man was killed when his 4x4 vehicle crashed into a tree during a dummy film run, Warner Brothers said in a statement.

The studio said that none of the cast, which includes several Hollywood stars, was involved in the accident that occurred at a special effects facility.

It added the fatal crash did not happen on the set or during filming for "Batman: The Dark Knight".

Media reports said the vehicle was following a stunt car, believed to be the Batmobile, at a property near Chertsey, Surrey.

"There was a fatal accident ... at a special effects facility for "The Dark Knight," the studio said in a statement. "A special effects technician on the film was in a truck that struck a tree at the end of a test run-through."

The name of the deceased has not been released.

An HSE spokesman added: "There was filming of some sort involving a vehicle stunt and there was an accident.