Entertainment

This Was The Official Cause Of Anton Yelchin's Death, According To A Coroner

by Eitan Levine
REUTERS

The LA coroner's office has officially ruled Anton Yelchin's death an accident.

The 27-year-old actor, known mostly for his roles in “Star Trek” and “Alpha Dog,” died on Sunday after a freak accident left him pinned between his Jeep and the gate of his home. Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told reporters the coroner's office ruled he died due to accidental “blunt traumatic asphyxia.”

Though there are still some questions as to why he was out of the car to begin with and how the car was able to roll into him, it appears his death may have had something to do with a faulty gear switch.

Yelchin's car, a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was recalled after an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found the gear switch design made it difficult for drivers to tell which gear the vehicle was in.

An LAPD spokesperson told reporters,

We are looking into that. The investigation is still ongoing and the traffic detectives will look at all of those factors as they would in any traffic collision investigation. So, at this time we're not sure what caused it, but that's something investigators are looking at.

Toxicology reports are due to be available over the next six to eight weeks.

Citations: Anton Yelchins Cause of Death Officially Ruled Accidental Blunt Traumatic Asphyxia Coroner Says (PEOPLE)