Josh Klinghoffer of Pearl Jam and RHCP sued for alleged wrongful death
Josh Klinghoffer, a guitarist who has worked with Pearl Jam and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is said to have been sued for manslaughter and negligence following a fatal collision with a pedestrian.
Ashley Sanchez filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles on Wednesday on behalf of her late father Israel Sanchez against the 44-year-old guitarist, who is currently on tour with Pearl Jam.
The lawsuit alleges that Israel Sanchez, 47, was “thrown and/or dragged across the asphalt where he suffered blunt force trauma to the head and lay on the pavement until an ambulance arrived” after he was struck by an SUV without license plates in a crosswalk on March 18, according to documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times and Deadline. He was pronounced dead at the hospital hours later.
“Video of the incident shows that defendant Josh Adam Klinghoffer did not brake or slow down until he fatally struck Israel Sanchez, indicating that he was likely distracted while driving,” the lawsuit states. In addition, the guitarist allegedly “used a device just seconds before his collision with Israel Sanchez.”
USA TODAY reached out to representatives for Sanchez’s, Klinghoffer and Pearl Jam.
Klinghoffer’s lawyer Andrew Brettler told NBC News and the LA Times on Wednesday that the musician had a “tragic accident.”
“After the car struck the pedestrian, Josh immediately pulled over, stopped the vehicle, called 911 and waited for police and ambulance to arrive. He is fully cooperating with traffic investigators,” Brettler said.
Nick Rowley, one of Ashley Sanchez’s attorneys, told Entertainment Weekly and Deadline in a statement that Klinghoffer “should be arrested and charged with manslaughter.”
Ashley Sanchez added to EW and NBC: “My father was known as a great cook, the most talented of his family, the greatest grandfather, always full of love and joy. His smile was so contagious. His life was taken by the carelessness of someone who wasn’t paying attention to where he was driving.”
According to the lawsuit, she is seeking a jury trial, reimbursement of attorney fees and damages for the costs of her father’s funeral, burial and medical treatment, as well as her own pain and suffering.
Klinghoffer was guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019. He has also toured with the bands Jane’s Addiction and currently Pearl Jam.
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