Ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers Guitarist Josh Klinghoffer Sued For Wrongful Death

Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who is currently touring with Pearl Jam, has been sued for wrongful death and negligence after he ran over a pedestrian in Los Angeles in March.

A video obtained by TMZ shows Klinghoffer, who was driving his SUV, a black GMC Yukon, knocking down the victim Israel Sanchez at a crosswalk in Alhambra, California, on March 18. The car ran over Sanchez and dragged him for some distance, after which Klinghoffer got out of his car and walked over to the body but returned to the vehicle.

Sanchez succumbed to his injuries about two hours later. The victim’s family is suing Klinghoffer for negligence and wrongful death and are seeking damages.

“Mr. Klinghoffer should be arrested and prosecuted for homicide. We have a video of him on his cell phone at the time he hit and killed Israel Sanchez, a loving father, in a crosswalk,”

Attorney Nick Rowley said in a statement,

“Israel Sanchez was on his way to the grocery store to make soup for his family and never came home. 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,” he added. “We will not stop until there is accountability and justice for Mr. Sanchez and his family.”

Andrew Brettler, Klinghoffer’s attorney, told 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.”