Anton Yelchin's death prompts government to caution Jeep drivers

Federal auto safety authorities are cautioning drivers of select Fiat Chrysler vehicles following the death of actor Anton Yelchin, who was crushed after his 2015u2009Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled down a driveway at his Studio City home over the weekend.

Yelchin’s SUV was one of 1.1u2009million vehicles recalled in April by Fiat Chrysler after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated complaints from hundreds of drivers who said they had difficulty telling if their vehicle was in park or neutral, causing their cars to unexpectedly roll away, the NHTSA said Monday.

“Until all of these recalled vehicles are fixed, owners should take extra care to make sure their car is in park and tued completely off before exiting,” the NHTSA said in a statement. “We’re 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.”

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Yelchin, 27, was found dead about 1:10u2009a.m. Sunday in the driveway of his home in the 3800u2009block of Berry Drive, the Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday. His death occurred when the vehicle apparently rolled backwards down his sloped driveway, piing him against a mailbox pillar and metal gate.

The NHTSA said Yelchin’s death is the first it is aware of that may be coected to what it termed a “safety defect.” The recall applies to 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees as well as the 2012-2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300u2009vehicles “equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector.” If an owner is unsure if their car is under recall, they can check www.safercar.gov.

In aouncing the recall in April the NHTSA noted, “Drivers thinking 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 ruing and the parking brake is not engaged.”

The LAPD said it is investigating whether Yelchin’s vehicle was in neutral at the time of the fatal accident.

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According to published reports, security cameras at Yelchin’s home may have captured the incident. LAPD Officer Liliana Preciado did not know if there was security camera footage, but said “if there were, we would definitely want to look at it.”

Yelchin’s publicist, Jeifer Allen, didn’t know whether there were security cameras trained on his driveway, nor whether Yelchin had taken his SUV in for servicing to address the recall issue.

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In a statement, Fiat Chrysler officials on Monday extended their condolences to Yelchin’s family and friends. They added, “It is premature to speculate on the cause of this tragedy. … The company is in contact with the authorities and is conducting a thorough investigation.”

The LAPD said in a statement that it is still investigating the cause of the “tragic accident.”

“The investigation is ongoing so we have not made any final determination as to the cause of the accident, only that it does appear to be accidental and not an intentional act,” according to the statement.

Allen said a private funeral is being plaed for the actor, who is best-known for playing Pavel Chekov in the recent “Star Trek” films.

Yelchin plays the same role in “Star Trek Beyond,” which will arrive in theaters on Julyu200922.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.