Before Anton Yelchin’s death, a recall for 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokee models was issued after reports of injuries from people who thought they put their vehicles in park — only for them to be in neutral and capable of rolling away. Dozens of injuries came to light, but according to The New York Times, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a statement following the actor’s passing, saying, “This the first fatality we’re aware of that may be related to this safety defect and vehicle recall.”
Victor and Irina Yelchin, Anton Yelchin’s parents, filed a lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler for wrongful death and product liability. Victor Yelchin released a statement at the time of filing: “In spite of our unbelievable grief, we decided to come here to prevent other families from the same tragedy.” The Los Angeles Times reported on March 22, 2018, that the two parties had reached a confidential settlement.
No amount of money can bring a child back, but hopefully, the lawsuit and the story of what happened to Anton Yelchin will remind everyone of the preciousness of life and being aware of any product recalls regarding vehicles.
