Star Trek's Anton Yelchin's death an accident

  • 22/06/2016
Anton Yelchin is best-known for his role as Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek movie series (AAP)
Anton Yelchin is best-known for his role as Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek movie series (AAP)

Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin's death has been officially ruled an accident by the Los Angeles County coroner's office -- but police are investigating a potential mechanical fault in his car.

The 27-year-old's body was found on his driveway, pinned between his Jeep Cherokee and a brick mailbox at the bottom of his steep driveway, San Fernadino police told TMZ.

The car was in neutral and the engine still running, with the car believed to have rolled from the top of his driveway. Police say he exited the car, and was caught behind it when it descended down the driveway.

Yelchin was found by a friend, concerned that he hadn't shown up to a rehearsal earlier in the evening.

Recent reports suggest his car was the same make as a number of 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokees recalled in April over a transmission problem that allowed the vehicles to roll even when in park.

As the crash is being looked at as a traffic collision, a police investigation into mechanical faults is standard practice, and is ongoing.

Russian-born Yelchin is best-known for his role as Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek movie series, alongside Kiwi actor Karl Urban. Star Trek Beyond, the next film in the franchise, is released next month.

Yelchin also starred in Terminator Salvation, Alpha Dog, The Smurfs, Taken and Green Room, which is playing at the 2016 New Zealand International Film Festival.

Newshub.