PICTURED: The mangled gate which Star Trek star Anton Yelchin, 27, was pinned against by his two TON Jeep when it rolled backwards and killed him in freak accident

Found early Sunday morning on his steep driveway pinned between car and a brick mailbox

Vehicle was in neutral and engine was still running; police still investigating but say no suspicious circumstances

Rising star will next be seen in Star Trek Beyond, out in July

Tributes flooded in, with Star Trek co-star John Cho writing 'I'm in ruins' 

Photographs taken at Star Trek star Anton Yelchin's home show the twisted metal gate and mailbox that the 27-year-old was fatally crushed against during a freak accident.

The body of the Russian-born actor was found at around 1am on his driveway in Studio City, California. He had been hit by his own car, authorities said.

According to police sources, the star was pinned against the gate by his 5,000 pound (2.5 ton) Jeep Grand Cherokee after he got out of the car but left the SUV in neutral.

Investigators believe the vehicle rolled backwards and into Yelchin. They have not established why exited his car.

A friend found Yelchin's body pinned between his car and a brick mail box, which was attached to a security gate and is on a very steep incline.

 

Yelchin was born in Saint Petersburg in Russia, the son of well-known professional figure-skaters Irina and Viktor Yelchin.

After 15 years as the stars of Russia’s Ice Ballet, the Yelchins fled to the United States as political refugees when their only child was still a baby.

Raised in Los Angeles, Yelchin attended the University of Southern California.

He started acting as a child, taking his first professional role at age nine in A Man Is Mostly Water.

Small roles in indie films and various television shows followed, before he broke out in films like the crime thriller Alpha Dog and the teenage comedy Charlie Bartlett.

His biggest role to date had been a recurring role as Ensign Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films - the third of which, Star Trek Beyond comes out in July.

He also appeared in Terminator Salvation, Jim Jarmush’s Only Lovers Left Alive, and Hearts In Atlantis, based on a novel by Stephen King. 

Yelchin's famous friends and colleagues rushed to share their condolences after learning the tragic news. 

His Star Trek co-stars were obviously devastated by the loss.

John Cho wrote: 'I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins.'

 

And Zachary Quntio called Yelchin 'our dear friend'. 

Sharing a picture of the young star, he wrote: 'Our comrade. our Anton. One of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know. 

'So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years. And gone before his time. All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief.'

JJ Abrams, the director of the rebooted franchise, shared a hand written tribute to the actor.

'Anton,' he wrote, 'You were brilliant. You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented.

'And you weren't here nearly long enough. Missing you. JJ.' 

'This is unreal,' the actor's friend Anna Kendrick tweeted on Sunday. 'Anton Yelchin is such a talent. Such a huge loss.'

Chad Michael Murray tweeted: 'Just heard about Anton Yelchin. What a great talent and good young man. Gone far too soon...Terrible loss. You will be missed.' 

Chris Kelly was one of many to complement the growing star's acting skills.

'Very sad to hear Anton Yelchin has died,' he wrote. 'Do yourself a favor and watch "Like Crazy." I love love love that movie. And he is amazing in it.'

'Anton Yelchin was one of my best friends', Kat Dennings wrote. 

'Can't say anything that conveys what this feels like.'

British comedian Matt Lucas wrote: 'Dreadful news about Anton Yelchin. I thought he was an amazing actor.'