NEWS-07
Hollywood film star who was crushed by his own SUV right in his own
driveway.>
movie series. The question tonight, did the gear shift system in his Jeep
Grand Cherokee play a role in his death. The vehicle was already under
recall.>
LESTER HOLT (00:18:11): Los Angeles police are investigating the tragic death of a young Hollywood film star who was crushed by his own SUV right in his own driveway. Anton Yelchin was best known for his role in the latest "Star Trek" movie series. The question tonight, did the gear shift system in his Jeep Grand Cherokee play a role in his death. The vehicle was already under recall. Here`s NBC`s Tom Costello.
(Begin VT)
TOM COSTELLO (00:18:37): For a rising Hollywood star, tragedy early Sunday morning.
(Excerpt from Chekov in the Star Trek)
TOM COSTELLO (00:18:42): Twenty seven-year-old Anton Yelchin, Chekov in the Star Trek movies found dead at his home. The LAPD says he was pinned against his mailbox and fence by his SUV found in neutral. A 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee like this already part of a recall involving a million vehicles after hundreds of drivers complained of trouble shifting, even watching their SUVs roll away.
MAN #1 (00:19:06): Most people don`t know they have a problem until they get out of the car and it`s rolling away on them. And--and that`s exactly what happened here in-- in this high-profile event.
TOM COSTELLO (00:19:13): Government investigators say Chrysler identified at least two hundred known crashes, many with similar stories. "When I put the car into park, it pops into reverse", said one driver. From another, "While the vehicle was in park, it rolled away and the vehicle rolled down a hill independently." Gary Titus (ph) says he knows the problem.
GARY TITUS (00:19:31): This has happened on multiple occasions, you know, the worst one was when I got pinned between the-- the car and the garage.
TOM COSTELLO (00:19:38): Fiat Chrysler admits the shift lever can be confusing.
MAN #2 (00:19:42): Now the electronic shift lever with this transmission is a little different.
TOM COSTELLO (00:19:46): Even releasing a video explaining how to use it and to ensure the vehicle is actually in park.
(00:19:51): The shifter is unusual because it actually springs back into a center position after the gear is selected. Now the company is adding warnings on locks so drivers don`t walk away without making sure the car is in park.
(00:20:03): Chrysler says it`s aware of forty-one serious injuries related to the problem. Now it says it`s conducting a thorough investigation into Sunday`s tragedy, but it says it`s premature to speculate on the cause.
00:20:14): Tom Costello, NBC News, Washington.
(End VT)
LESTER HOLT (00:20:17): Up next here tonight, the once in a generation event happening on this summer night.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
LESTER HOLT (00:23:27): A jaw dropping moment caught on camera when strong winds sent a children`s inflatable bounce house flying into the sky. It floated above trees and power lines, then crashed into a transmission tower in Western New York State. Thankfully, no one was inside at the time.
(00:23:44): Meet the newest member of team Clinton. Three day-old Aidan Clinton Mezvinsky left the hospital in New York City with mom Chelsea Clinton and dad Marc Mezvinsky. They were joined by Chelsea`s parents, now grandparents, for the second time.
(00:23:58): And welcome to summer. The season officially began at 6:34 Eastern tonight, the longest day of the year. And the summer solstice coinciding with the full moon, nicknamed a Strawberry Moon, for the strawberry harvest season.
(00:24:12): Up next, King James and the Cavs get a royal welcome for ending a half century of heartache in Cleveland.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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