Actor Anton Yelchin, 27, died after being killed by his own car yesterday [June 19] after it rolled backwards down a steep hill and pinned him to a brick postbox pillar and a security fence at his home in Los Angeles. Yelchin played Pavel Chekov in the movie Star Trek as a replacement to actor Walter Koeing in the rebooted Star Trek films.
According to CNN, an interview with Jennifer Houser of the LAPD revealed the events leading up to Yelchin’s death. “The victim was on his way to meet his friends for a rehearsal and when he didn’t show up, his friends went to his house where they found him deceased by his car,” Houser told CNN. “It appears that he momentarily left his car, leaving it in the driveway. He was behind the vehicle when it rolled backward and pinned him to the brick pillar, causing the trauma that led to his death.”
Yelchins’ friends notified his family of his death when they found him. Friends of Yelchin took to Twitter to express their condolences toward the actor.
Actor Chris Evans posted, “Devastated to hear about the brilliant Anton Yelchin. He was thoughtful, kind, and gifted. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in Star Trek, took to Instagram and wrote “Our dear friend. Our comrade. Our Anton. One of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know. So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years. And gone before his time. All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief.”
Rest in Peace, Anton Yelchin.
