Actress Minnie Driver is recovering at home in London after being involved in a 'really bad' car crash in France that left her with a sprained neck. The 56-year-old star of Emily in Paris shared the news with her followers on Instagram, posting a video of herself wearing a neck brace and lying in bed.
Crash details: T-bone collision on a country road
Driver explained that the collision occurred a few days ago while she was driving with a friend on a country road in the middle of France. A car failed to stop at an intersection and struck them at speed, causing a T-bone impact. In the video, she stated: 'Well, we didn't walk out of it; we crawled out of it, but we did get out of it alive. To be very clear, it was not our fault.'
The actress, known for her role in Good Will Hunting, said she is 'fine' but admitted to being in shock and crying frequently. She added: 'I'm going to heal and the reason that I'm not dead, honestly, is the car that we were driving.'
Airbags credited with saving lives
Driver highlighted the 360-degree airbags in her Kia car as the key factor in their survival. She noted that she had never been in a crash before and expressed astonishment at the vehicle's design. 'The fact the entire car didn't just concertina and crush us is down to the design of that car – which is frankly astonishing,' she said.
While joking that she was not doing an advertisement for Kia, Driver emotionally praised the car, saying: 'We've got families and people who love us and I am so grateful to be alive.'
Hospital treatment and aftermath
The Instagram post also included an image of the wrecked car and a photograph of Driver and her friend Ben leaving a French hospital after receiving treatment. In her caption, she thanked 'the van driver who stopped and helped us before the ambulances arrived' but also mentioned 'the car who slowed down, took in the scene and drove off without stopping'.
Driver described the psychological impact of the crash, writing: '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.' She concluded with a message of gratitude: 'Thank you to my friends, my family, all the people at work and especially my friend Ben and his family. I love you.'
