Minnie Driver has revealed she is 'grateful to be alive' after being involved in a 'really bad' car accident in Paris, France. The actress, 56, shared a video of herself wearing a neck brace, revealing she is still in shock and regularly cries.
The Crash
Minnie and her friend Ben Homewood, who is also an actor, were driving down a country road in a Kia EV2 when another car crashed into them at an intersection. The pair were taken to hospital, where Minnie learned she had sprained her neck.
The Good Will Hunting star insisted the accident was 'not their fault' as she opened up about their ordeal in a new video on Instagram. Addressing her followers, she said: 'I am actually back in London. I’m sorry about the filter I’ve put on this, but honestly without it, I just look appalling. Even the dog wouldn’t look at me.'
Survival and Gratitude
'I got into a really bad car accident a few days ago, with my friend Ben and we somehow walked out of it. Well we didn’t walk out of it, we crawled out of it, but we did get out of it alive.'
She continued: 'To be clear, it was not our fault. A car didn’t stop at an intersection and was going at speed and we just T-boned it. I’m fine. I’ve got a sprained neck and I’m really in shock and cry all the time, but I’m going to heal.'
'The reason that I’m not dead is the car that we were driving. We were in this tiny little Kia EV2. I’ve never been in a crash before, but the 360 degree airbags are what saved our lives. The fact that the entire car didn’t concertina and crush us is down to the design of that car, which is frankly astonishing.'
Celebrating the Car
The Emily in Paris star went on: 'This is categorically not a car ad. I want to celebrate that car. I’m a Mini driver. Pun intended. I need to celebrate the car that saved us. We’ve got families and people that love us. And I am so grateful to be alive.'
'So Kia, you are a baller car company. You’re amazing. And thanks very much from me and my mate Ben Homewood. And my family and the people who love me.'
Minnie added in the caption: 'Shout out to the van driver who stopped and helped us before the ambulances arrived. Special mention to the car who slowed down, took in the scene and drove off without stopping. I guess this is the Dao of the world, the light and the dark.'
'My brain keeps replaying the crash which is very hard but seems to be a necessary part of processing. Weeping too, feels good and helpful. Thank you to my friends, my family, all the people at work and especially my friend Ben and his family. I love you.'
At the end of the video, Minnie shared an image of the car, which featured a severely crumpled bonnet and deployed airbags in the two front seats. This was followed by a photo of Minnie and Ben walking out of hospital, with Ben seemingly wearing a neck brace.
