‘Star Trek’ star Anton Yelchin dies in bizarre car accident
While details are still a bit confusing, Star Trek star Anton Yelchin has died at age 27 following a tragic and strange car accident early Sunday morning in Los Angeles. Yelchin was found pinned under the vehicle which appears to have rolled backwards.
His publicist Jennifer Allen confirmed the news in a statement: “Actor Anton Yelchin was killed in a fatal traffic collision early this morning. His family requests you respect their privacy at this time.”
Yelchin left his home in Studio City for a rehearsal, said Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Jenny Houser.
“A fatal traffic collision occurred,” Houser said. “It was the result of the victim’s own car rolling backward down his steep driveway, pinning him against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence.”
Houser continued to the press: “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 (Yelchin) had momentarily exited his car, leaving it in the driveway.”
Yelchin was trapped behind the car, “causing the trauma which led to his death.”
The Russian actor is best known as Chekov in the Star Trek reboot movies, including 2009’s Star Trek and 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness, and the new film, Star Trek Beyond which arrives in theaters on July 22.
“I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist – curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I’m in ruins,” tweeted Star Trek co-star — John Cho (@JohnTheCho) June 19, 2016.
Zachary Quinto, who portrays Spock in Star Trek, called Yelchin “our dear friend, our comrade, our Anton,” adding that the actor was “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,” Quinto wrote. “All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief.”
Yelchin also just wrapped Thoroughbred, which finished shooting in Boston two weeks ago. The psychological thriller, expected in 2017, stars Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy and is the theatrical directorial/screenwriting debut of playwright Cory Finley.
