Anton Yelchin's Parents Are Suing Jeep Manufacturer for Wrongful Death

Anton Yelchin's parents are suing Jeep Manufacturer Fiat Chrysler for wrongful death.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

The parents of Anton Yelchin, the 27-year-old actor killed in a freak accident last month at his California home, are now planning to sue the companies they feel are responsible for their son's death. An attorney for Yelchin's parents reportedly toldTMZ Monday they are seeking punitive damages for the "wrongful death of their son" due to "significant defects" on his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The actor, known for his performances in the Star Trek franchise and the cult classic Charlie Bartlett, was killed June 19 at his Studio City home when the vehicle "slide backwards and pinned him against a brick pillar and a security fence," CNNreported. "It appears that he momentarily left his car, leaving it in the driveway," a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said. "He was behind the vehicle when it rolled backward and pinned him to the brick pillar causing the trauma that led to his death."

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

The new suit, according toTMZ, seeks punitive damages from Jeep Grand Cherokee maker Fiat Chrysler, manufacturer ZF North America, and car retailer AutoNation. A similar class action suit was filed against Fiat last month, alleging that the vehicle's ZF Shifter was prone to malfunctioning and deceiving drivers into believing it was in the park position. "One of the most basic safety features in every car is the gear shifter that causes a stationary car to remain stationary, unless and until an operator wants the car to move," that suit asserted, as quoted by the Hollywood Reporter.

Following Yelchin's tragic death, Hollywood united to share their memories of his brief but illustrious acting career. "You were brilliant," J.J. Abrams, who directed Yelchin in Star Trek in 2009, said in a handwritten letter posted to Twitter. "You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. And you weren't here nearly long enough."

RIP Anton Yelchin.

Latest in Pop Culture