Fiat Chrysler Lawsuit: Anton Yelchin's Parents Sue Grand Cherokee Jeep Maker For Wrongful Death

Anton Yelchin’s parents are suing Fiat Chrysler for the “wrongful death” of their 27-year-old son. The late “Star Trek” actor was killed this past June after his Jeep rolled backward in his Los Angeles driveway and pinned him against his security gate.

Yelchin’s parents plan on filing a wrongful death suit against Fiat Chrysler as well as AutoNation, the car’s retailer chain. The Russian actor was widely known for his films, "Charlie Bartlett," "Alpha Dog" and for his role as Pavel Chekov in the “Star Trek” film installment.

On June 19, Yelchin was leaving his Studio City home to meet with friends when his 2015 Grand Cherokee Jeep rolled down his driveway, fatally pinning him against a brick pillar and his security fence. According to New York Daily News, the 2015 Grand Cherokee had been recalled just months prior to Yelchin’s death. Fiat Chrysler had recalled both its 2014 and 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee models in April due to a design error in its electronic gear shift. The shift led many drivers to believe that their cars were in park when they were in neutral, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

“FCA US has determined that the existing strategies built into these vehicles to deter drivers from exiting the vehicle after failing to put the transmission into PARK have not stopped some from doing so," the report stated. “Drivers erroneously concluding that their vehicle’s transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.”

Fiat Chrysler recalled 248,667 cars manufactured between July 2012 and December 2015.

According to NBC Los Angeles, Yelchin’s parents and their attorney will formally announce the lawsuit at a Tuesday news conference. The auto company has not offered a comment on the lawsuit.