Recalled Grand Cherokee May Be Involved in Actor Anton Yelchin’s Death

By Adam Pockross - June 20, 2016

yelchin jeep

27-year-old actor Anton Yelchin, best known for playing Pavel Checkov in the new Star Trek franchise, was found dead yesterday at his home in Southern California after being pinned against a gate by his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

According to TMZ, the Cherokee was left in neutral and was still running when Yelchin’s body was discovered, around 1:00 am.

The Los Angeles Police Department released the following details about the accident:

“On Sunday, June 19 at 1:10 in the morning, a fatal traffic collision occurred. It was the result of the victim’s own car rolling backwards down his steep driveway, pinning him against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence. The victim was on his way to meet his friends for rehearsal. And when he didn’t show up, his friends went to his house, where they found him deceased by his car. It appeared he had momentarily exited his car leaving it in the driveway.”

The Cherokee may be one of 811,586 2014-15 Jeep Grand Cherokees voluntarily recalled by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (along with 2012-14 Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s) after customers had difficulty understanding the vehicles’ monostable shifter. Whether Yelchin’s Jeep was affected, and if had been serviced yet, are still under investigation.

The monostable shifter has three settings — front, middle, and back — and has confused some customers into thinking the car is in park when it’s really in neutral. The recall is meant to install upgraded software into the vehicle so that it won’t move with a door open while in a gear other than park, and to install additional alerts.

FCA is complying with the authorities and conducting their own investigation. In a statement, they note that it’s too early to speculate on whether the well-known issue is the cause of Yelchin’s unfortunate death. But personally speaking, at first glance, it’s hard not to connect such dots.