Star Trek Actor Anton Yelchin Dies in Car Accident, SUV Had Been Recalled for Safety Defect
Anton Yelchin, a 27-year-old Hollywood actor who starred in the recent blockbuster Star Trek movies, was tragically killed in an auto accident involving his Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Friends of Yelchin went to his Studio City CA home after he failed to show up for a rehearsal. They found the actor pinned against a gate in his driveway. Yelchin was already dead by the time emergency medical responders arrived at the scene.
The big controversy surrounding Yelchin’s death is whether the fatal accident was caused by a vehicle defect that has been linked to other accidents involving Jeep Grand Cherokees. Earlier this year, Fiat Chrysler, the corporation that manufactures the vehicles, recalled most 2015 model Jeep Grand Cherokees because they had a design defect that confused drivers and led to vehicle rollaway accidents.
The problem, said officials for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), was that drivers were confused by the design of the gear shifter and could not tell whether they had already put the car into “park.” This resulted in several drivers exiting their vehicles, only to suddenly realize that the car was rolling away because it was still in gear.
At this time, law enforcement and auto safety inspectors have not confirmed the cause of the tragic auto accident that killed Yelchin. Authorities are still investigating the crash and trying to figure out how Yelchin ended up crushed while not inside the SUV. One aspect of the investigation will include determining whether Yelchin’s car was in gear or in park when it crushed the actor.
The Los Angeles Coroner’s Office has already said that Yelchin’s death was an accident, not a homicide. Additionally, an autopsy performed by medical examiners showed that Yelchin died as a result of blunt force asphyxia – likely when his Jeep Grand Cherokee pinned him against a brick pillar in his driveway.
To learn more about this fatal vehicle accident, view the Yahoo.com article, “The Latest: SUV That Rolled, Killed ‘Star Trek’ Actor Anton Yelchin Was Under Recall.”
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, whether it was caused by a negligent driver or a defective auto part, you need to talk to a skilled product liability and personal injury lawyer immediately. The New Jersey product liability and car accident attorneys at Drazin and Warshaw, P.C. have more than 70 years of combined experience helping accident victims get the compensation they deserve. Contact us now to schedule a free consultation about your case.
