Star Trek Actor Dies After Being Crushed In Roll Away Jeep Incident

Terrible tragedy to cut short a promising young life and career. Just imagine the raging posts here in this forum had it been not a Jeep, but a Tesla.

What about the possibility that Jeep's notorious shifter caused this?

It has been confirmed: He had a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

I have a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT.

Most likely this was due to him thinking the truck was in N, and either gravity letting it roll onto him or it somehow shifting into R. It may have even been in R.

youtube.com/watch?v=w4BI0MX7Hg8

As the owner of a 2015 GC I have experienced the phenomena of thinking it is in park when it is in reverse. Easy to do if one doesn't press the button on the shifter hard and all the way down when moving it out of drive into park. That said you notice it immediately on a level surface as your foot hits the ground. One would think if his drive is that steep it would have been moving as he opened the door. Perhaps he meant to put it in neutral and didn't apply the parking brake hard enough.

I wonder why some bright person hasn't engineered the transmission to shift to park if the car is stopped and the driver's door is open. It would seem that would be something relatively easy to do. Or even if the driver's door is open and the vehicle is not in park to have the car say "shift to park".

The 2017 Fusion has a rotary knob and the detents are heavy and sure, but pushing a stick all the way forward for park is an automatistic behavior whereas these knobs aren't.

@MDarringer: because the bean counters say it's not worth the extra week a software engineer needs to get it done. Sounds similar to GM's ignition switch ?

@HenryN and that is why I'm harshly critical of the industry.

It is not difficult to strive for excellence. Doing the right thing as one's default is also a simple decision. I'm not expecting perfection, but doing less than the best that is currently possible is ridiculous.

I'm much better at business than I was when I was 21, but even at 21 I always brought the best game I could bring.

Guys, the recall fix is alleged to be along Matt's second suggestion; add software to loudly announce that the door is being opened and the vehicle is not in park. Pain in the butt if you are getting in and out to hitch up a trailer, but livable. Because Jeeps go off road and tow there are applications where you do not want it to go into Park when the door is open. The real solution is to install the 2016 "new" selector which dumps this dumb joystick for a lever with detentes. Been driving for over 50 years,3 on the tree, 4 on the floor, column and console automatics and even a 58 Edsel with push buttons in the steering wheel hub, and this is the first vehicle I've owned where you have to look to see what gear you are in. Progress it isn't!!

FCA has announced they will look into the incident.

Actually MDarringer if you didn't drive toyota/lexus toasters or whatever you're driving these days, you would know that this "smart" feature has been on many cars for at least 7 years already.
I think the 2010 Mercedes E class has this first. I know my 2012 M class has it. Even my 2014 BMW has it. The cars shift to park as soon as you open the door. I guess the old saying you get what you pay for is true and can save your life.

"had this first"

Your car says "You fucking moron, your car is not in park"? "Tesla" says your a tool. #FOAD

Typical idiot MDarringer. Did you forget your meds again? Remind me again who said: "I wonder why some bright person hasn't engineered the transmission to shift to park if the car is stopped and the driver's door is open. It would seem that would be something relatively easy to do. Or even if the driver's door is open and the vehicle is not in park to have the car say "shift to park"."

It's been in existence for at least 7 years you idiot.
Too bad your toaster manufacturer can't copy technology fast enough.