During a recent episode of his popular Armchair Expert podcast, actor and comedian Dax Shepard revealed the profound and lasting impact of a terrifying car accident that nearly claimed his life when he was a teenager. The conversation unfolded as Shepard, alongside co-host Monica Padman and guest Kaley Cuoco, delved into the topic of near-death experiences, prompting Shepard to share his own harrowing story from his high school years.
The Frightening Moment of Realisation
When Cuoco expressed curiosity about what people see during near-death moments, stating she almost wished she had such an experience, Shepard responded with a chilling account. "I have had the moment, which is among the most unique feelings I've ever had in my life, where I went, 'Oh, I'm about to die. I'm like seconds away from dying,'" Shepard recounted. This pivotal moment occurred during a drive back from Toledo to Detroit, with Shepard attempting to sleep in the folded-down back seat of a Ford Probe hatchback while his friend drove with cruise control set at 85 mph.
A Sudden and Violent Awakening
Shepard described being jolted awake by the sound of gravel hitting the car, only to see his friend slumped over the steering wheel as the vehicle veered off the road at high speed. "I started to go... to grab the wheel, and there was a moment I just knew it was too far gone. Like we had gone completely sideways. I laid back down and then... we just launched in the air, and we started rolling right down the highway," he explained. In those terrifying seconds, Shepard braced for impact with a tree, anticipating fatal consequences and finding the thought strangely comforting.
Miraculous Survival and Immediate Aftermath
Miraculously, the car avoided any trees during its violent roll, eventually coming to rest upside down after approximately ten rotations. Both Shepard and his friend managed to crawl out through the windows physically unharmed. However, the psychological aftermath was immediate and profound. For days following the accident, Shepard admitted to questioning whether he was still alive, grappling with the surreal nature of his survival.
Enduring Psychological Scars
The most significant lasting effect, Shepard revealed, is his complete inability to fall asleep in a car unless he is the one driving. "This may shock you, but I've never been able to fall asleep in a car ever since," he stated. This trauma has permanently altered his travel habits, eliminating any possibility of sharing driving duties on long journeys. The accident, while not resulting in physical injury, left an indelible mark on his psyche, transforming a routine activity into a source of anxiety decades later.
Shepard's candid discussion on the Armchair Expert podcast highlights how singular traumatic events can shape behaviour and perception long into adulthood, offering a raw glimpse into the actor's personal history and the vulnerabilities that persist beneath his public persona.
