Yelchin Accident Due To Faulty Vehicle?
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The car which pinned Anton Yelchin and killed him had been subject to a voluntary recall earlier this year.
Yelchin had been driving a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee at the time of his death. The 2014 and 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees were recalled because they would move even though they were put in park.
A report on the defect said that “The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver’s door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.
“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 running and the parking brake is not engaged.”
The issue “stems from the design of the electronic shifter. When the driver shifts the vehicle into park, the only indication to the driver is a light on the console: “unless due care is taken, drivers may draw erroneous conclusions about the status of their vehicles.” At least forty-one injuries had happened courtesy of this issue.
Drivers of the vehicles involved in the voluntary recall were supposedly notified and given directions on how to “properly operate the shifter.” 1.1 million Jeep Grand Cherokees were involved in the recall.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said today that they would conduct a “through investigation” of the incident. “”It is premature to speculate on its cause at this time,” said Fiat Chrysler‘s Eric Mayne.
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