‘Riverdale’ Star KJ Apa Fell Asleep While Driving, Crashed After Working Late

“Riverdale” star KJ Apa was reportedly involved in a car accident in Vancouver last week, and his stressful work schedule could be to blame.

The actor, who plays Archie on the CW drama, left set in the early morning hours after a 16-hour workday. Apa had a 45-minute trip home, but he apparently fell asleep during the drive, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

After crashing, the 20-year-old was taken to a hospital, but he was not seriously injured. He did, however, total his car after the passenger side hit a light pole. Luckily, no one was in the car. Though Jughead actor Cole Sprouse initially planned to get a ride home from Apa, he changed his plans before heading out.

According to the report, Sprouse is a leader on set (he has been working professionally most of his life while most of the other young cast members are newer to Hollywood). He is spearheading conversations about changing the working conditions. “They’re working these kids from morning until night,” a source familiar with the situation told THR. “Someone’s going to die.”

The cast wants transportation provided for those working late hours. However, it should be noted that cast members are allowed to call a taxi or stay at a hotel at the studio’s expense should they feel unable to drive. Sources have said that the actors’ representatives will be meeting with Warner Bros. executives Friday to handle the issue, but WBTV has not confirmed the reports about this meeting.

Though the cast is very active on social media, they have not spoken out about last week’s car accident. Sprouse and Apa were joking around just yesterday with Apa imitating the Jughead actor.

On Sept. 13, Apa posted a behind-the-scenes photo and noted that he was working long hours while filming the second season of “Riverdale.” “It's gonna be a long one for the boyos [sic] tonight,” he captioned a picture.

“Riverdale” premiered in January on The CW, and after good reviews and averaging a little over a million viewers each week, the series was renewed for Season 2. The dark take on classic Archies Comics characters will return Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. EDT on The CW. The sophomore drama will be the lead-in for the network’s newest reboot, “Dynasty.”

It seems The CW has an interest in growing the “Riverdale” universe. On Wednesday, it was announced that a new series based on Sabrina the Teenage Witch is being developed for next year’s TV season. Like “Riverdale,” the show would be much darker than the classic comics.

The companion series will be based on Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” comics from the Archie Horror imprint. Aguirre-Sacasa, who is an executive producer on “Riverdale,” will write the pilot and produce the series. No casting announcements have been made yet, but “Riverdale” pilot director Lee Toland Krieger will helm the first episode of “Sabrina” as well.