Actress Minnie Driver has revealed she is recovering from a sprained neck and is "in shock" following a "really bad car accident" on a country road in France. The 56-year-old, best known for her Oscar-nominated role in Good Will Hunting, shared a candid video on Instagram on Thursday while wearing a neck brace, detailing the collision that occurred with her friend Ben.
Survivor's Account
Driver explained that the crash happened when another vehicle failed to stop at an intersection and struck them at speed. "We were driving on a country road in the middle of France and a car didn't stop at an intersection and was going at speed, and we just T-boned it," she said in the video. The actress emphasized that the accident was not their fault, stating, "To be very clear, it was not our fault."
Describing the harrowing escape, Driver said: "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."
Crediting the Vehicle's Safety
Driver credited the design of the Kia they were driving for saving their lives. "I've never been in a crash before, but the 360-degree airbags are what saved our lives. 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. The actress expressed deep gratitude, adding, "We've got families and people who love us, and I am so grateful to be alive."
The clip included an image of the wrecked vehicle alongside a photo of Driver and her friend in a hospital corridor. She also paid tribute to "the van driver who stopped and helped us before the ambulances arrived" and noted the irony of "the car who slowed down, took in the scene and drove off without stopping." Reflecting on the experience, she remarked, "I guess this is the Dao of the world, the light and the dark."
Emotional Aftermath
Driver admitted to struggling with the psychological impact of the crash. "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 wrote in the caption. She concluded with heartfelt thanks: "Thank you to my friends, my family, all the people at work and especially my friend Ben and his family. I love you."
The British actress has since returned to her home in London to recover. Driver rose to prominence with her performance in Good Will Hunting (1997), where she played Skylar, the love interest of Matt Damon's character. Her extensive career includes roles in television series such as The Riches, Speechless, Will & Grace, and Starstruck, as well as films like Circle of Friends, The Phantom of the Opera, and Return to Me.
