Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist takes plea deal in fatal crash
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer has accepted a plea deal to avoid jail time in connection with the death of a pedestrian in Alhambra, California, in March of last year.
Klinghoffer, 45, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence in an Alhambra courtroom Wednesday, according to Rolling Stone. He received one year of informal probation and 60 days of community labor.
Klinghoffer was driving a 2022 GMC Yukon when he struck and killed 47-year-old Israel Sanchez in a crosswalk on March 18, 2024. Security video of the incident shows Klinghoffer immediately stopped and called 911.
Sanchez suffered blunt force trauma to the head and died from his injuries hours later.
Klinghoffer also faces a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit filed by Ashley Sanchez, the victim's daughter.
Klinghoffer joined the Los Angeles-based Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2009 after guitarist John Frusciante's departure. He became the youngest member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when he was inducted with the band at age 32 in 2012.
He left the group in 2019 when Frusciante returned and later performed with Pearl Jam and Jane's Addiction.
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