Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer is being sued for wrongful death in connection with an incident when a man was killed after being struck by a vehicle.
Per a new report obtained by TMZ, a 47-year-old man named Israel Sanchez was hit by a black GMC Yukon in Alhambra, CA in March while he was in a crosswalk. Sanchez was dragged across the pavement and died hours later from blunt force trauma to the head.
A video of the incident shows the driver pulling over after striking the pedestrian, looking at the body, and then getting back into the vehicle, the outlet noted. No arrests were made yet, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by Ashley Sanchez, the daughter of the victim. The filing alleges that Klinghoffer was using a cellphone while driving, as evidenced by the video footage that appears to show the driver holding an object above the steering wheel.
The lawsuit also states that the large grassy median should have provided plenty of space for the driver to see Sanchez walking.
“My dad was known for being a great chef, the most talented of his family, the greatest grandpa always full of love and joy,” Sanchez said in a news release, per The Guardian. “His smile was so infectious. His life was taken by a careless act of a person who didn’t bother to look where he was driving.”
Klinghoffer was part of the popular rock band from 2009 until 2019. TMZ reported that the guitarist was the youngest inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
The rocker left the Red Hot Chili Peppers and toured with several other mainstream bands, including Jane’s Addiction and Pearl Jam.
Klinghoffer’s attorney Andrew Brettler shared the following statement with TMZ: “It was a tragic accident. After Josh struck this pedestrian in the intersection, he immediately pulled over, stopped the car, called 911 and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. Obviously, he’s cooperating with the police throughout the traffic investigation. This was purely a tragic accident.”
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Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer is being sued for wrongful death in connection with an incident when a man was killed after being struck by a vehicle.
Per a new report obtained by TMZ, a 47-year-old man named Israel Sanchez was hit by a black GMC Yukon in Alhambra, CA in March while he was in a crosswalk. Sanchez was dragged across the pavement and died hours later from blunt force trauma to the head.
A video of the incident shows the driver pulling over after striking the pedestrian, looking at the body, and then getting back into the vehicle, the outlet noted. No arrests were made yet, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by Ashley Sanchez, the daughter of the victim. The filing alleges that Klinghoffer was using a cellphone while driving, as evidenced by the video footage that appears to show the driver holding an object above the steering wheel.
The lawsuit also states that the large grassy median should have provided plenty of space for the driver to see Sanchez walking.
“My dad was known for being a great chef, the most talented of his family, the greatest grandpa always full of love and joy,” Sanchez said in a news release, per The Guardian. “His smile was so infectious. His life was taken by a careless act of a person who didn’t bother to look where he was driving.”
Klinghoffer was part of the popular rock band from 2009 until 2019. TMZ reported that the guitarist was the youngest inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
The rocker left the Red Hot Chili Peppers and toured with several other mainstream bands, including Jane’s Addiction and Pearl Jam.
Klinghoffer’s attorney Andrew Brettler shared the following statement with TMZ: “It was a tragic accident. After Josh struck this pedestrian in the intersection, he immediately pulled over, stopped the car, called 911 and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. Obviously, he’s cooperating with the police throughout the traffic investigation. This was purely a tragic accident.”
“}]]
