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Josh Klinghoffer has been charged after striking and killing a pedestrian with his car earlier this year. The ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist and Pearl Jam touring member is scheduled to be arraigned in a California court on Thursday (September 26) on a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence.
Klinghoffer tragically killed Israel Sanchez in Alhambra, California on March 18 after making a "distracted" left turn and hitting the man, who was crossing the street in a crosswalk, without hitting the brakes in time. Sanchez's family sued the musician for "negligence and wrongful death" in July, claiming the 47-year-old pedestrian was "dragged across the asphalt" by Klinghoffer's SUV and "sustained blunt force trauma to his head," which caused his death hours later.
Video footage shows Klinghoffer pull over, get out of the car, and then return to his car after seeing the body; however, his attorney Andrew Brettler issued a statement about the incident, assuring he called 911 immediately and cooperated with authorities. "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," he said. "Obviously, he's cooperating with the police throughout the traffic investigation. This was purely a tragic accident."