Friends discovered the Russian-born actor pinned against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence at his California home by his Jeep Grand Cherokee in the early hours of Sunday.
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Anton Yelchin, a promising Hollywood star best known for his role as “Chekov” in the rebooted “Star Trek” films, is being remembered by his colleagues in the entertainment industry. The vehicles were on voluntary recall in the USA due to the flawed design of the gearshift lever that made it hard to distinguish between the neutral and the parking positions.
Today, the agency said it is collecting information about Yelchin’s accident and plans to issue a statement later this afternoon.
The recalled vehicles sound a chime and issue a dashboard warning if the driver’s door is opened while they are not in park.
“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. while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged”, the NHTSA said. Vehicles from other manufacturers with electronic shifters have a fail-safe that turns the auto off or shifts automatically to park if a driver pushes the off button and opens the door. Both FCA and NHTSA concluded the alerts warning drivers that the vehicle is not in “Park” while the door was open were not adequate, and could result in the auto unintentionally rolling away. The weird gear stick was blamed for 212 auto crashes, 308 property damages, and 41 injuries.
Fiat Chrysler extended its “most honest condolences” to the family and friends of Yelchin, according to a statement emailed to the Detroit Free Press.
“FCA US extends its most honest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Yelchin”, a Fiat Chrysler spokesperson was quoted as saying in a statement.
His death tragically cut short the promising career of an actor whom audiences were still getting to know and who had great artistic ambition.
His breakout performance came in the 2006 crime thriller “Alpha Dog”, and his movie credits include J.J Abrams’s three “Star Trek” films and last year’s critically acclaimed “Green Room”. You were amusing as hell, and supremely talented. “As a member of the Star Trek family, he was beloved by so many and he will missed by all”.
Early in his career as a teenager, Yelchin gained wide attention appearing with Anthony Hopkins in the 2001 film “Hearts in Atlantis” and with Robin Williams in 2004’s “House of D”. His parents, who were professional figure skaters, moved the family to the United States when Yelchin was a baby. “There was something about it that I just felt completely comfortable doing and happy doing”, Yelchin told The Associated Press in 2011.
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“Jim was like, ‘Watch out”.
