In 2014 she was seriously injured on the first day of shooting the Gregg Allman biopic, "Midnight Rider." The shoot took place on a railroad track over the Altamaha River in Wayne County, Georgia, when an unscheduled train surprised the cast and crew approaching at approximately 60 miles an hour forcing all to scramble for safety. A bed that was set on the trestle for use in the scene could not be moved in time and as the train hit it there were several injuries and one fatality, Sarah Jones, a 27 year old camera assistant. As for Gilliard, the blast of pressure and wind from the train's passing ripped Gilliard's left arm away from her body and straight into the train. Lead actor, William Hurt, was on the scene but not seriously injured. The production was abandoned and director, Randall Miller, served time in prison for his actions leading up to the accident.
