Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who most recently toured with Pearl Jam, has accepted a plea deal in connection with a car accident that killed a pedestrian last year.

Klinghoffer on Wednesday pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, Rolling Stone reported. His plea came as part of a deal with prosecutors that allowed him to avoid prison time.

The musician had otherwise been facing one year behind bars. Instead, he was sentenced to one year of informal probation and 60 days of community labor. He also must complete a driver safety class and pay restitution to be determined at a later date.

On March 18, 2024, Klinghoffer was driving a black 2022 GMC Yukon in the Los Angles suburb of Alhambra when he fatally struck 47-year-old Israel Sanchez. Video of the accident, obtained by TMZ, shows the SUV making a left turn at the intersection of West Main Street and Meridian Avenue before it hit Sanchez as he attempted to cross the street.

Police said Klinghoffer failed to yield, noting that Sanchez was in the crosswalk at the time. He was pronounced dead later that same day, and his cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma.

Following Klinghoffer’s plea, prosecutors warned the musician against driving while distracted in the future.

“If you continue to drive while distracted, and as a result of your driving someone is killed, you can be charged with murder,” they said.

The victim’s daughter, Ashley Sanchez, also spoke during the hearing. She said her father was the heart of her family.

“My father was an extraordinary grandfather to my [children],” the heartbroken daughter told the court, per Rolling Stone. “His absence has left an irreversible void in our lives.”

Sanchez’s family has also filed a wrongful death suit against Klinghoffer, claiming he was on his cellphone and driving a car with no plates when the accident occurred.

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