The Car Accident in ‘First Blood’ Was Real
Not only was the car accident scene real, but it also happened to compress a stuntman’s spine. The car chase was very cool and simple, but according to Stallone, the sequence was “horrifically choreographed.” During the chase, Sheriff Teasle’s (Brian Dennehey) squad slides down a hill sideways and flips over.
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This was actually an accident and was only kept in the film because it looked so cool. After the stunt driver crashed the car, Teasle was put into the topped over the vehicle, and the scene continued on. Now, while an overturned car looks amazing on camera, stuntman Bennie E. Dobbins suffered major back damage – a compression lumbar fracture. In other words: he broke his back and shortened his spine.