UPDATE: 'Star Trek's Anton Yelchin Found Dead After Freak Accident
Was it really a freak accident or the result of poor design?
UPDATE: According to The Washington Post, Yelchin’s vehicle, a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was recalled in April because of a confusing gear shifter that could cause the car to roll away unexpectedly. “Fiat Chrysler sent affected drivers a letter in May telling them that it was working on a fix, and that they should prepare to bring their cars in for repairs later this year. In the meantime, the company told drivers to shift gears carefully. “ALWAYS DO A VISUAL CHECK that your vehicle is in ‘PARK,’” the letter said. FCA also advised drivers to always use the parking brake.”
Fiat Chrysler said Monday that “it is premature to speculate on its cause at this time,” but Yelchin’s death is under a “thorough investigation.”
Anton Yelchin was found dead early Sunday morning as a result of a very freak accident that is still under investigation. Best known for his roles as Pavel Chekov in Star Trek, Zack Mazursky in Alpha Dog and many others, the 27-year-old Russian actor was expected to meet his friends for rehearsal Saturday night, and when he didn’t show, they decided to go check on him. At approximately 1 a.m. PST, his friends discovered him pinned between his car and a brick mailbox, which was attached to a security gate, at his San Fernando Valley home. As TMZ reports, “Law enforcement tells us the engine was running when his body was discovered, and the car was in neutral.” The police however don’t suspect foul play.
Yelchin’s last film, Star Trek Beyond, is slated to hit theaters July 22.
