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Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin, 27, dead in freak accident

The rising actor was found at his home overnight, pinned against a mailbox by his own car.
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Anton Yelchin, best known for his role as Chekov in the recent Star Trek films has died in a freak accident at the age of 27.

His publicist Jennifer Allen confirmed that he was killed in a fatal traffic collision overnight at his LA home.

TMZ reports the actor was found pinned between his car and brick mailbox. The driveway was said to be on a steep incline and the police discovered the car was in neutral.

Police do not believe his death is suspicious.

Anton (left) in a scene from Star Trek

“It appears he momentarily exited his car and it rolled backward, causing trauma that led to his death,” LA police department spokeswoman Jenny Houser told the Hollywood Reporter.

The Russian-born actor appeared in films like Terminator Salvation, Fright Night, Only Lovers Left Alive, and Hearts in Atlantis. Yelchin will appear in the third Star Trek instalment, out next month.

JJ Abrams, director of the two Star Trek reboot films (2009 and 2013) that Anton starred in, had this to say about the tragic news:

See more celebrities mourn his death:

VIDEO: Remembering Anton Yelchin

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