Anton Yelchin, the actor known for portraying as Chekov in J.J. Abram’s rebooted Star Trek franchise has died at the age of 27, due to a car accident.
Reports from TMZ indicate that friends of Yelchin mentioned that he was missing around 1am and was late for rehearsal. It was later discovered that the actor was pinned between his mailbox and his car, in a steep highway at his San Fernando Valley home. According to TMZ, police ruled out foul play when they found the car in neutral with the engine still running.
A police report from the Los Angeles Police Department gave some insight into his death:
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On Sunday, June 19 at 1:10 in the morning, a fatal traffic collision occurred. It was the result of the victim’s own car rolling backwards down his steep driveway, pinning him against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence. The victim was on his way to meet his friends for rehearsal. And when he didn’t show up, his friends went to his house, where they found him deceased by his car. It appeared he had momentarily exited his car leaving it in the driveway.
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The Russian-born Yelchin was famously known for playing Chekov in Star Trek, Prior to that, he had roles in TV and films before rising to prominence with a role in Alpha Dog.
He is slated to appear in the upcoming Star Trek Beyond, Rememory, We Don’t Belong Here and was cast to appear in the Stephen King adaptation, Mr. Mercedes.
Our condolences go to Yelchin’s loved ones.
Source: TMZ