Rick Leventhal, husband of ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’ alum Kelly Dodd, feels “lucky to be alive” after surviving a horrific car accident.
“So lucky to be alive and grateful for the good wishes and care I receive. 4 broken ribs, fractured bone in right foot, injured pride,” the former Fox News reporter, 62, captioned. from an Instagram post shared on Tuesday evening.
“So far, that’s it 🙏❤️😎.”
In an accompanying video from his hospital bed, Leventhal explained the chilling incident.
“I hydroplaned east on 410 about 40 minutes outside of Palm Desert and immediately hit what looked like a patch of ice,” he said. he said, acknowledging the recent bout of heavy rains in southern California. “It was just water or something.”
Leventhal continued: “The roads were slippery, losing control, slamming hard against the wall. He began spitting in traffic lanes and slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer, ripped off the front of a Mercedes and shattered a windshield.
The news personality went on to say that one of his vehicle’s windows “broken” and “both airbags” deployed.
“I think I may have broken my ribs from the airbag,” he said, noting that a “trucker helped [him] outside.”
Despite his injuries, Leventhal insisted he was ‘fine’. However, the doctors “want to keep me in the hospital for a bit”, he added. “But it could have been much worse.”
His wife, Dodd, 47 – whom he married in October 2020 – asked fans for prayers in a post of his own.
“There will be no smash tomorrow on @youtube the rick and kelly show. My husband was in a horrible car accident,” she captioned photos of the wreckage. “He’s in the ER. .please say prayers for @rickleventhal.”
Some of Dodd’s Bravo family sent their best wishes to Leventhal in their comments section.
“Oh no! Thank goodness he’s fine,” wrote his former ‘RHOC’ teammate Vicki Gunvalson. “Praying for a speedy recovery.”
‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ star Margaret Josephs added, “So scary to send prayers 🙏🙏🙏❤️.”
“Shahs of Sunset” alum Mercedes “MJ” Javid also shared a message of support, writing, “omg no I’m so sorry and sending prayers.”
Meanwhile, Leventhal himself expressed further gratitude for his safety after the accident.
“Honestly, I’m lucky to be alive. Scariest times of my life,” he commented on Dodd’s page. “It makes everything that much more meaningful ❤️.”
