Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer sued over fatal accident

Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer is facing a new lawsuit after allegedly running over and killing a 47-year-old pedestrian in Los Angeles who was on his way to the supermarket to make soup for his family.

Klinghoffer, 44, was arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, July 10, for fatally striking Israel Sanchez on March 18 as he crossed a marked crosswalk in Alhambra, California.

According to a lawsuit filed by Sanchez’s daughter Ashley and obtained by PEOPLE, Klinghoffer was “likely distracted driving” and allegedly used a device “just seconds before” he struck Sanchez in the back while making a left turn.

The lawsuit alleges that the musician “did not brake or slow down until” he fatally struck Sanchez, who was “thrown and/or dragged across the asphalt” and suffered blunt head trauma. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he died about 2½ hours later from “horrific” injuries, according to the lawsuit.

“It was a tragic accident,” Klinghoffer’s attorney Andrew Brettler, who did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment, said in a statement to TMZ. “After Josh struck this pedestrian in the intersection, he immediately pulled over, stopped the car, called 911 and waited for police and ambulance to arrive. He is obviously cooperating with police throughout the traffic investigation. This was purely a tragic accident.”

No arrests were made in this case, the lawsuit states. It also states that Klinghoffer – who is currently touring with Pearl Jam – never contacted the Sanchez family and “showed no remorse for his behavior.”

A video of the incident obtained by PEOPLE shows a black GMC Yukon ramming into Sanchez without braking. The car then pulls to the side of the road and a man gets out, although the person cannot be identified as Klinghoffer. A photo obtained by PEOPLE also reportedly shows Klinghoffer holding what appears to be a cellphone seconds before the crash.

“My father was known as a great cook, the most talented of his family, the greatest grandfather who was always full of love and joy,” Ashley Sanchez said in a statement to PEOPLE. “His smile was so contagious. His life was taken by the careless act of someone who wasn’t paying attention to where he was driving.”

She is demanding a jury trial and damages, including funeral, burial and medical expenses, attorneys’ fees and compensation for pain and suffering, as well as the loss of her father’s “love, companionship, comfort, care, support, protection, affection, companionship and moral support.”

Ashley has also started a GoFundMe campaign.

Klinghoffer joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2009 after the departure of John Frusciante and left the band in 2019 after Frusciante’s return. He recorded two studio albums with the Chili Peppers, I’m with you (2011) and The escape (2016).

He later said that he did not take his dismissal personally, but struggled with it. Rolling Stone that leaving the band “really felt like a death”.