Did Jeep that killed Anton Yelchin in weirdo accident have a design flaw? Cars ‘were previously recalled’
The actor passed away after being pinned against the gate guarding his San Fernando Valley home
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- 08:56, twenty JUN 2016
- Updated Ten:09, twenty JUN 2016
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Anton Yelchin was tragically killed this weekend after he was crushed inbetween his car and a security gate – and now it’s raised the troubling question: Was there a fault in the Jeep itself?
The Starlet Trek actor, who was just twenty seven years old, was found dead in the driveway of his home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
His worried friends visited his San Fernando Valley home around 1am to check on him , after he failed to display up at an 11pm Saturday night rehearsal.
They discovered him pinned inbetween his car and the security gate at the bottom of the driveway which is on a steep incline.
Now, according to website Gizmodo , there is speculation the accident may have happened due to a “design flaw” in certain Jeep models, manufactured by Italian company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, also known as FCA.
The starlet possessed a Grand Cherokee design, and while it’s not been confirmed there was any fault in this particular design, some Jeeps were previously recalled in the US because they didn’t sound a warning when the driver got out when it was left in neutral, not park.
According to the site, there was a voluntary recall in April this year, organised by Fiat Chrysler, on Jeep Grand Cherokees that were manufactured inbetween July 16, 2012, and December 22, 2015.
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report previously stated: “The affected vehicles . may not adequately warn the driver when driver’s door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, permitting them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.”
It added: “Drivers thinking that their vehicle’s transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.”
According to a report by NHTSA, the fault resulted in two hundred twelve crashes, three hundred eight property harm claims and forty one injuries, Mail Online reports .
According to TMZ , Anton had just left home and had cleared the gate but then, for an unknown reason, got out of his car which he left in neutral.
His Five,000 pound (Two.5ton) Jeep Grand Cherokee then reportedly flipped rearwards and pinned him against the gate with such force it arched the metal.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, albeit a coroner is still to determine whether he died instantly on influence.
A statement from his spokeswoman released on Sunday said: “Actor Anton Yelchin was killed in a fatal traffic collision early this morning. His family requests you respect their privacy at this time.”