The cause of death of Rico Priem, the 9-1-1 crew member who died in a freeway accident in May, has been confirmed.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Priem suffered from a sudden cardiac dysfunction and had cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) with left ventricle hypertrophy. His manner of death is classified as natural.
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Priem was a grip and a member of IATSE Local 80. His cause of death was initially thought to have been due to drowsiness following a lengthy work shift. However, the autopsy report indicates that Priem died of a heart attack.
The crew member had just finished a 14-hour shift on the ABC drama series and got into an accident while driving home to Woodland Hills from Pomona.
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Priem was reportedly driving north on the 57 Freeway at Via Verde Drive in San Dimas when his vehicle “left the roadway for unknown reasons, went up an embankment and flipped onto its roof.” The crew member was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the incident, IATSE released a statement saying, “We are fully committed to the safety and the well-being of all our members and express our heartfelt condolences to the member’s family. Workers have a reasonable expectation that they can get to work and come home safely. No one should be put in unsafe circumstances while trying to earn a living.”
20th Television, the studio behind 9-1-1, also released a statement following Priem’s death saying, “On behalf of the studio and everyone at 9-1-1, we send our sincere and deepest condolences to Rico Priem’s family and friends.”