In July 2016, actor Anton Yelchin was found pinned between “his Jeep and a brick pillar outside his house,” dead. Now, nearly two years later, that parents of the Star Trek star reached a settlement with Fiat Chrysler, the makers of the Jeep Grand Cherokee that “crushed their son in his driveway in a what’s been deemed a freak accident,” according to court documents.
In July 2016, actor Anton Yelchin was found pinned between “his Jeep and a brick pillar outside his house,” dead. Now, nearly two years later, the parents of the Star Trek star reached a settlement with Fiat Chrysler, the makers of the Jeep Grand Cherokee that “crushed their son in his driveway in a what’s been deemed a freak accident,” according to court documents.
At this time, details of the settlement are confidential, though it was agreed to earlier this week in a Los Angeles Superior Court. Both sides are reportedly pleased with the settlement, and Fiat Chrysler even released a statement saying how pleased it was that the “two parties reached an amicable resolution” and continued to extend its condolences.
The accident itself occurred on July 18, 2016, and was ruled a ‘freak accident’ by authorities as “as Yelchin exited his car while in his driveway, which sat on a steep incline, only to be pinned between the pillar and a security fence when the car rolled back.” He was only 27-years-old at the time of his death, and it wasn’t long after the accident that his parents decided to file a lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler. According to the lawsuit, the family accused the car manufacturer of responsibility in the “wrongful death of their son due to significant defects in the car.”
Fiat Chrysler wasn’t the only party named in the lawsuit, though. In fact, the “Valencia, California Chrysler dealership that sold Yelchin the car” was also named. At the time, the dealership pushed back against the lawsuit in a “scathing response,” claiming it was the actor’s own “misuse, misapplication, or damage” that caused the accident, not a defect in the vehicle. The dealership’s response “went on to give a list of reasons why Yelchin could potentially be at fault, hinting at things like aftermarket changes and that Yelchin’s parents potentially did not properly maintain the car following the accident.”
Fiat Chrysler also issued it’s own statement shortly after the lawsuit was filed that said:
“FCA US extends its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Yelchin. The Company is in contact with the authorities and is conducting a thorough investigation. It is premature to speculate on the cause of this tragedy.”
Yelchin, who was born in 1989 in what is now Saint Petersburg, Russia, moved to the United States with his family as political refugees that same year. After settling into his new country, he “began his acting career in 2000, starring in the film A Man Is Mostly Water and appearing on the television shows E.R. and Geppetto.” Eventually, he went on to star in major Hollywood productions such as Terminator Salvation and landed the role of Pavel Chekov in the newest Star Trek movies.
Sources:
Anton Yelchin’s Family Reaches Settlement With Fiat Chrysler
Parents of late actor Anton Yelchin reach settlement with Fiat Chrysler
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