Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin killed in freak accident by recalled SUV

by Craig Takeuchi on June 20th, 2016 at 11:33 AM

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Actor Anton Yelchin, best known for portraying the young Russian navigator Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek reboot movie series, was killed in a freak accident on June 19 at 1 a.m. when he was crushed by his own car. He was 27 years old.

According to reports, Yelchin had stepped out of his SUV on a steep driveway at his Los Angeles home. It rolled backwards and pinned him against a brick pillar and a security fence.

His body was discovered when he didn't show up for rehearsal and friends went to his house. Foul play is not suspected but the accident is under investigation.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV will also be investigating the accident, as it involved a recalled 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

In April, Chrysler recalled over 1.1 million vehicles due to problems with them rolling after drivers exiting.

Yelchin also starred in the films Like Crazy, Fright Night, Charlie Bartlett, Only Lovers Left Alive, and Hearts in Atlantis.

The third installment in the series, Star Trek Beyond which will be released on July 22, was shot in Vancouver.

Other films he starred in which still are to be released include Rememory, We Don't Belong Here, Porto, and Thoroughbred.

Star Trek Beyond director Justin Lin and his costars expressed their shock and grief on social media: