Guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who also played with Pearl Jam, did not attend the tense hearing, while the victim's family did.
On Thursday, Josh Klinghoffer, a former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist who later played with Pearl Jam and others, pleaded ” not guilty » to the charge of involuntary manslaughter in a California court.
The musician did not attend the hearing but entered his plea through his attorney, Blair Berk. The charge, filed in August, stems from a fatal crash that occurred on March 18, 2024, in the city of Alhambra, east of Los Angeles. Driving his black GMC Yukon, Klinghoffer, 44, struck a man, Israel Sanchez, in a pedestrian crossing. The latter, 47, was pronounced dead at hospital later in the day following trauma.
In July, Mr. Sanchez's family filed a lawsuit against the guitarist, claiming he was on the phone and driving a car without license plates. To them, the video of the accident suggests that Klinghoffer “ was probably driving while distracted » and that he “ did not brake or slow down before hitting » Sanchez.
A source familiar with the investigation told WECB that “ no criminal intent is alleged ” and that a review of the evidence determined ” that there was no phone involved “. A lawyer representing Sanchez's family disagreed with WECB. After Thursday's hearing, attorney Grayson Yoder said Klinghoffer drove past a business ” a few seconds » before the accident and that he “ appeared to be holding a phone “. “ If they have any evidence to exonerate him, it has never been presented to us. All I can see is the video. If he says he's not on his phone, fine. But it's the middle of the day, he comes to an intersection and there are no brake lights on his vehicle, none, until a man is hit in the crosswalk. (…) There is no other word than negligence. We allege that this was gross negligence. »
“ I miss my father said Ashley Sanchez, Mr. Sanchez's daughter, after the hearing. “ We demand justice. I don't know why Josh is only sentenced to a minor offense. This is not acceptable. My father was a very good father “.
Josh Klingoffer's trial is scheduled to resume on October 31.
Klinghoffer has been known in the alternative rock scene for some time. In 2009, he joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers, replacing his friend, guitarist John Frusciante, before being fired by the band in 2019 when Frusciante returned. He is currently touring with Pearl Jam (he contributed to their last album, Dark Matter) and also works with his own band, Pluralone.
