‘Star Trek’ Star Anton Yelchin’s Parents, Fiat Chrysler Settle Wrongful Death Suit
Parents of the late Anton Yelchin have agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed against makers of the SUV that killed the Star Trek actor in 2016.
Anton Yelchin's Parents Reach Settlement With Fiat Chrysler
Yelchin's parents reached a settlement with automobile giant Fiat Chrysler, which manufactures the Jeep Grand Cherokee that was responsible for the death of their 27-year-old son. The terms of the settlement between Victor and Irina Yelchin and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are not known but the settlement was filed at a Los Angeles Superior Court earlier this week.
Fiat Chrysler released a statement on Thursday, March 22, saying that it was pleased that it had reached an amicable resolution in the matter. The company continues to extend their deepest sympathies to the Yelchin family for their tragic loss.
A spokesperson for the Yelchin family said that the proceeds of the settlement will be donated to the Anton Yelchin Foundation and part of it will be used for the filming of a documentary film based on the late actor's life.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Yelchin died in June 2016 in a freak accident after his SUV rolled backward down the driveway of his Los Angeles residence and pinned him between a security fence and a mailbox.
Following his death, Victor and Irina filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler because the SUV, a Grand Cherokee, was one of the 1.1 million vehicles that the company had recalled.
The recall was due to a problem with the car's gear shifters, which confused drivers and caused the vehicles to roll away unexpectedly. Although the company recalled the cars in April, he received the letter only seven days before his death in June 2016.
In their wrongful death lawsuit, Yelchin's parents alleged that the faulty gear selectors were responsible for their son's death.
At the time, the car manufacturer released a statement extending their condolences to the Yelchin family, before adding that it will conduct a thorough investigation into the tragic incident.
Yelchin's credits include several popular film and television projects including Fright Night and Green Room. The Russian actor also lent his voice to the Smurfs franchise and the Netflix series Trollhunters. However, he was best known for his role as Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek film series.
Before his death, the actor shot scenes for the new drama thriller Thoroughbreds. The film arrived in theaters on March 9.
