Kelly Dodd’s husband Rick Leventhal was seen leaving a Palm Springs hospital in a wheelchair on Wednesday for the first time since his horrific car accident earlier this week.
Leventhal, 62, suffered broken ribs and a foot injury in the incident – which occurred while he was en route to Palm Desert, Calif., and was taken to the hospital by ambulance, RHOC veteran Dodd, 47, told Tuesday TMZ.
Leventhal – who said he was lucky to live in hospital – was seen with a cast on his right foot and ankle as he was wheeled to a waiting car.
He was seen pushing himself up and walking to the car on his hiking boot.
‘Lucky to be alive’: Kelly Dodd’s husband Rick Leventhal was seen for the first time since his horrific car accident earlier this week leaving a Palm Springs hospital in a wheelchair on Wednesday
Dodd was seen carrying her husband’s boot in a plastic bag as she wheeled his suitcase before heading home to continue his recovery.
Dodd revealed her husband had been taken to the emergency room as she shared photos and video of the wrecked vehicle sitting in the middle of the freeway on Tuesday. While the car is now totaled, her husband is expected to be fine.
Dodd told TMZ the accident happened while Leventhal was en route to Palm Desert, California. As can be seen in the video, the incident happened on a highway that was wet from recent rains.
There for him: Dodd was spotted carrying her husband’s boot in a plastic bag as she wheeled his suitcase before heading home to continue his recovery
Recovery: Leventhal – who said he was “lucky to be alive” in hospital – was seen with a cast on his right foot and ankle as he was wheeled in a wheelchair to a waiting car
At home: He was seen pushing himself up and walking towards the car on his hiking boot
Accident: Leventhal was driving Dodd’s Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which sustained severe damage to the front of the vehicle
Leventhal was driving Dodd’s Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which sustained severe damage to the front of the vehicle.
“Tomorrow there will be no smash on @youtube, the Rick and Kelly show. My husband was in a terrible car accident. He’s in the ER. Please say prayers for @rickleventhal,” she captioned the post.
Fragments of the car appeared to be strewn across the street in video footage captured after the incident.
Rick said he has a deeper appreciation for life as he commented on the post: “Honestly I’m lucky to be alive. Scariest moments of my life. That makes everything even more meaningful.”
Hospitalization: The star was spotted walking home from the hospital
In love: Dodd carried her husband’s suitcase as she escorted him home
Suitcase: The reality star was carrying her husband’s belongings
He also released a video clip from his hospital bed thanking people for their support and well wishes.
Rick said he sustained four broken ribs and a broken bone in his right foot after aquaplaning on the Interstate 10 freeway outside of Palm Desert.
“It could have been so much worse,” he said.
In the hospital: Rick shared a selfie video from his hospital bed on Tuesday after he was injured in an accident while driving on a Southern California freeway
Couple: Kelly is shown with Rick in December 2019 in New York City
Smashed: Kelly shared images of the crashed vehicle on social media
Rick, after losing control of the car on the slick road, said he hit a wall hard and started spinning across the traffic lanes before crashing into the back of a semi-truck.
Numerous members of the Real Housewives family sent their well wishes to Leventhal in the comments section.
RHOC Vet Gretchen Rossi wrote: “Oh no. send prayers Hope he’s fine.’
Margaret Josephs of RHONJ commented: “So scary to send prayers.”
Leventhal was driving Dodd’s Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which sustained severe damage to the front of the vehicle
The incident happened on a highway that was wet from recent rains
Hydroplaned vehicle: Rick said in his own Instagram post that he suffered four broken ribs and a fractured bone in his right foot after hydroplaning on the Interstate 10 freeway outside of Palm Desert
Fragments of the car appeared to be strewn across the street in video footage captured after the incident
RHOC star Elizabeth Lyn Vargas left a series of praying hands and teary-eyed emojis.
OC Vet Peggy Tanous also posted prayer hand emojis.
Dodd, who has come under fire for controversial COVID-19 opinions, was fired by the Real Housewives of Orange County in 2021 along with Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas.
Dodd has been married to Leventhal, a former Fox News correspondent, since 2020.
Since leaving the reality series, Kelly and Rick have started their own podcast on YouTube, Patreon, and Spotify called The Rick and Kelly Show.
They’ve also started flipping houses and are working on their own Pickleball line of apparel and sporting goods.
Loved one: Dodd married Leventhal, a former Fox News correspondent, in 2020