Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist sued for wrongful death
FILE – This Sept. 18, 2016, file photo, guitarist Josh Klinghoffer plays during a performance with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. The former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist is being sued for wrongful death and negligence after allegedly hitting and killing a pedestrian earlier this year. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)
LOS ANGELES – The daughter of a man allegedly run over and killed by a former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist in Alhambra in March filed court papers Wednesday against the musician, alleging wrongful death and negligence.
Ashley Sanchez brought the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit against Josh Klinghoffer stemming from the March 18 death of her father, 47-year-old Israel Sanchez, which occurred about 2:50 p.m. at Main Street and Meridian Avenue.
Klinghoffer, who has also played with Pearl Jam, was driving a 2022 GMC Yukon with no license plates and struck Sanchez in the back while the victim was in a crosswalk, causing him to fall, be dragged and die less than three hours later at a hospital, the court papers state.
Klinghoffer did not brake until after striking Sanchez and, based on video evidence, he likely was driving while distracted, the court papers further state.
Ashley Sanchez seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Shortly before he was struck, the victim stopped at the corner to make sure traffic had cleared. He was walking within a marked crosswalk and halfway across the westbound West Main Street side when Klinghoffer made a left turn and struck Sanchez in the back, the lawsuit said.
Klinghoffer made no effort to hit the brakes before striking the pedestrian, according to the lawsuit.
Klinghoffer’s attorney, Andrew Brettler said the death was a “tragic accident” and the guitarist called 911 as soon as he realized what he’d done.
“After the car struck the pedestrian, Josh immediately pulled over, stopped the vehicle, called 911, and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. He is fully cooperating with the traffic investigation,” Brettler said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday.
Sanchez family attorney Nick Rowley said in a statement that Klinghoffer “should be arrested and prosecuted for homicide.”
Rolwey said Sanchez followed street laws before his death. “He did everything right, looking for oncoming traffic and abiding by pedestrian signage, but tragically Mr. Klinghoffer, in a rush and on his phone, hit him fatally from behind with a large SUV. The loss and grief that the Sanchez family now faces is immense. We will not stop until there is accountability and justice for Mr. Sanchez and his family.” (With CNS report)
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