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SJ Harris, the stunt person killed yesterday while performing a stunt in Vancouver for production of the feature film Deadpool 2.handout

The pioneering motorcycle racer noted for her grace, skill and energy who died in a stunt on the Vancouver set of the blockbuster Deadpool sequel was attempting a stunt that could never be performed safely with certainty, a leading industry professional says.

SJ Harris, 40, from New York City, was identified on Tuesday as the stuntwoman killed after crashing her motorcycle into the base of a downtown skyscraper on Monday while filming the latest movie starring Ryan Reynolds. Ms. Harris dubbed herself the first African-American woman to become a professional road racer, beginning her career in racing in 2014.

"When she first started racing with us, she was using the wrong equipment, had a little trouble with the physical attributes of throwing a bike around that was twice her size – or more," Kevin Elliott, president of the American Sportsbike Racing Association said from Fort Worth, Tex.

But he said Ms. Harris improved in every race, and raced hard and clean. "She was more determined than anything. She just went out and did it."

Witnesses described watching Ms. Harris practice the stunt repeatedly prior to the accident. But Mr. Elliott said no matter how many times such a stunt was rehearsed, motorcycles are unpredictable.

"Racing a motorcycle is not an exact science. You can do something two or three or four times and never have a hiccup and the fourth or fifth or sixth time, whatever, the bike can slide two or three or four inches more than you expect. It can be as simple as running over a leaf.

"Anything that changes what you expect can put you into a tight spot."

The crash occurred near a Starbucks at the Shaw Tower on the city's waterfront beside the luxury Pacific Rim hotel. There were no reported injuries among bystanders or occupants of the coffee shop.

A crumpled motorcycle was seen lying on its side surrounded by broken glass a few metres from the smashed window of the tower. Crew members were distraught and one was in tears.

On Tuesday, a memorial of flowers and candles was in front of the coffee shop's boarded-up window. A message written on one of the candles reads, "Brave, beautiful and free." Ms. Harris's Facebook page was updated on Tuesday with a statement that called her "an extraordinary woman with a passion for riding and motorsports. She was known for her beautiful spirit and bubbly personality."

Mr. Elliott said he was concerned about a report in the entertainment news website Deadline Hollywood, noting Deadpool 2 was Ms. Harris's first movie and she wasn't wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Stunt performers in British Columbia are members of the Union of BC Performers/ACTRA. The union said on Tuesday that members of their stunt committee were not available for comment on Ms. Harris's death or whether she was wearing a helmet.

Ms. Harris's last Facebook posting, from Saturday, features several photos of downtown Vancouver, including a shot of the west building of the Vancouver Convention Centre where she was performing the stunt that ended her life.

In a 2015 interview with Black Girls Ride Magazine, Ms. Harris, whose day job then was working as a "medical professional" said she began learning to ride a motorcycle in 2009, and described a gung-ho credo.

"We tend to overthink things too much. Just do it," she said. She also described herself as "everything people never saw in the sport."

Mr. Elliott said the sport has lost a good ambassador, who demonstrated the sport was inclusive. "Quite honestly, she showed young black women, who are very scarce in our motor sports, that they can do it, and be accepted doing it. I think that's probably our biggest loss right now, to show what was possible and should happen."

Production of Deadpool 2 was shut down, with a production source saying there is no information on when it will resume. After Ms. Harris's death on Monday, Mr. Reynolds, who was born in Vancouver, said in a statement that members of the production were "heartbroken, shocked and devastated" by the incident.

Mr. Reynolds, who is also a producer on Deadpool 2, added they "recognize nothing can come close to the grief and inexplicable pain her family and loved ones must feel at this moment. My heart pours out to them – along with each and every person she touched in this world."

The filming of the original Deadpool in 2015 required the intermittent closing of the downtown Georgia Viaduct for two weeks to film iconic scenes featuring stunts and gun play for what turned out to be a critical and commercial hit. The city touted the economic spinoffs of the production, including an expected 1,100 jobs, as well as $37.5-million in direct spending in Metro Vancouver.

Shooting on the sequel has been under way for several weeks and has involved massive stunts in the city core. The production recently used several closed blocks of downtown West Hastings Street for the filming of a major vehicle chase involving a massive truck crashing into vehicles, as well as motorcycle, scooter and wire-work stunts.

Asked Tuesday about concerns about public safety given further high-profile stunts planned by the Deadpool 2 production in Vancouver, the city media relations department said in a statement that municipal officials consider any production company's planned activities and their possible impact on the city. When necessary, said the statement, the city works with the Vancouver Police Department to minimize disruption and address safety concerns. They said further questions about safety on set, and preparation for driving action need to be addressed to the production company.

Rick Forsayeth, a stunt co-ordinator in Toronto with 35 years of industry experience said stunts are thoroughly planned, but that work can only go so far in eliminating risk. "In my opinion, with stunts, you can cover 99 per cent of what's going to happen and when they call 'Action,' it's out of your hands."

The incident in Vancouver – the first on-set death of a stunt person in the British Columbia production sector since 1996 – came about a month after the death of a stuntman on the set of the U.S. TV series The Walking Dead, reportedly the first on-set death of a stunt performer in the United States in about 17 years.

Mr. Forsayeth, who was himself once seriously injured on set that resulted in major surgery, said he expected the Vancouver accident will resonate across the production sector in Canada, with considerable interest in the outcome of the investigations.

Monday's accident is under investigation by the BC Coroner's Service as well as WorkSafeBC, the province's occupational health and safety organization. "No worker should be killed on the job and all workers have the right to a safe workplace," WorkSafeBC spokeswoman Trish Chernecki said in a statement.

Under the rules in B.C., employers must carry out a preliminary investigation within 48 hours notice from WorkSafeBC and take all reasonable actions to prevent such an accident from occurring again.

With files from The Canadian Press

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