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  1. 'Quantum' Filming Suspended In Italy; Accident Investigations Ongoing

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-04-24

    Following up a string of incidents involving the vehicles being used for the shooting of the Quantum of Solace opening chase, filming has been temporarily suspended.

    The Telegraph reports that shooting was halted on the James Bond set at Lake Garda, Italy in order to allow the police to investigate the incidents.

    The first of the accidents (which took place this past Saturday) involved an Aston Martin DBS losing control on a lakeside road and plunging into the lake. The driver, Fraser Dunn, managed to escape after riding inside the car to the bottom. He was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

    A second incident followed on Monday involving a stuntman during the car chase filming.

    Most recently was yesterday’s incident where one of the vehicles on set collided with a lorry and then crashed into a wall. The driver, Greek stuntman Aris Comninos suffered a fractured cranium and was immediately flown by helicopter to the Borgo Trento hospital in Verona.

    A photograph of the crash scene can be viewed at The Sun.

    His co-driver, Bruno Verdirosi, was also flown to the hospital, but is not said to be in a serious condition.

    Comninos, who previously worked on the 1997 Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, is now said to be in stable condition. ‘He is doing as well as can be expected,’ said a spokesperson for the family.

    Meanwhile, a spokesman for Eon Productions stated that he did not know if filming would continue following the investigation as this latest incident occurred on the penultimate day of the shoot. He also shot down the notion of the production being cursed or jinxed, stating that the suggestions were ‘ridiculous’.

    An AP photographer viewed workers packing up equipment and cars earlier today on the 007 set. No comments were given.

    The Eon statement also noted that director Marc Forster, nor any of the film’s cast members, including Daniel Craig, were at the location at the time.

    A spokesman for the town Limone sul Garda, where the Bond production has been partly based, commented on the location of the incidents. ‘They chose this road because it is full of curves and tunnels,’ said Marco Girardi. ‘It will give the film a lot of impact.’

    Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.