Anton Yelchin Died About One Minute After His Accident, Coroner Says
Anton Yelchin died around a minute after his car accident, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has confirmed to ET.
The 27-year-old actor’s cause of death has also been confirmed as traumatic asphyxia, a condition arising from intense compression on the chest.
The Star Trek actor lost his life after he was struck by his car in the driveway of his Los Angeles home on Sunday. He is believed to have stepped out of his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and left the engine running, before the vehicle rolled down and pinned him to a brick pillar and security fence.
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It appeared that Yelchin did not properly place his vehicle in park. However, the same car has been under investigation for its “e-shift” transmissions, which are said to lack tactile and visual feedback, therefore “increasing the potential for unintended gear selection.”
According to CBS News, more than 850,000 vehicles – predominantly 2014 and 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees – were involved in the investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
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“NHTSA is in contact with local authorities and Fiat Chrysler to understand all of the facts related to this tragic crash, including whether or not this was caused by the current issue under recall,” the organization said in a statement. “Last year, NHTSA initiated an investigation into the issue. Then, in April, FCA acknowledged the defect, and issued a recall at NHTSA’s urging. Until all of these recalled vehicles are fixed, owners should take extra care to make sure their car is in park and turned completely off before exiting.”
See the actor’s final interview with ET below.
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