Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer was sued on Wednesday for wrongful death for allegedly running over and killing a pedestrian outside Los Angeles in Alhambra, CA. The incident occurred on March 18th and resulted in the death of 47-year-old Israel Sanchez.
The lawsuit obtained by TMZ alleges that Klinghoffer—who played with the Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019—was driving a black GMC Yukon that made a left turn and struck Sanchez as he was using the crosswalk. An attorney for Sanchez’s family alleges that he was dragged across the asphalt and suffered blunt force trauma to his head, ultimately causing his death several hours later. TMZ has obtained a traffic surveillance video of the incident, which shows the SUV going through the crosswalk as Sanchez crossed the street. Following the collision, the car then pulls over to the side of the road where Klinghoffer’s attorney says the guitarist waited for police to arrive. The video is blurry and does not provide any identifying features of the driver.
“It was a tragic accident,” Josh Klinghoffer’s attorney Andrew Brettler told TMZ. “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.”
The attorney for Sanchez’s family has also accused Klinghoffer of distracted driving and being on his cell phone at the time of the accident. Klinghoffer is being sued for negligence and wrongful death, and the family will seek damages. Police have made no arrests as of this publication.
“Mr. Klinghoffer should be arrested and prosecuted for homicide,” attorney Nick Rowley said in a statement. “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. 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. We will not stop until there is accountability and justice for Mr. Sanchez and his family.”
Klinghoffer joined the Chili Peppers in 2009 following the second of two exoduses by guitarist John Frusciante. Josh was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with the band in 2012 at age 32, making him the youngest musician ever inducted. Since Frusciante rejoined the band in 2019, Klinghoffer has linked up with Pearl Jam as the band’s touring multi-instrumentalist. The band is currently on tour in Europe.
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