Sheryl Lee Ralph, the acclaimed actress known for her work in both film and television, recently shared her traumatic experience following a car accident on April 7. As a result of the incident, Ralph’s truck rolled over a loading dock floor, resulting in severe physical and mental aftermath. In her first interview since the accident with PEOPLE on April 15, the 68-year-old actress discussed her serious injuries. She spoke openly about the psychological toll the crash has taken on her.
Ralph recalled the harrowing moments during the accident, stating, “Man, I was in a car accident! The car went over the loading dock. We went nose down.” As the vehicle plunged, she found herself grappling with fear for her life, questioning, “God, am I dying today? No, God, don’t let me die today. I’m going to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.” Underlying this reflection is the seriousness of her predicament and her drive to overcome it.
After the crash, Ralph was crippled in his right arm. In the beginning, he was required to wear an arm sling in public. She grew to hate it, largely because of the objectifying attention it invited. It fostered fear in everyone else as well. “I stopped wearing the sling because it made everybody feel nervous,” she explained.
The psychological consequences of the crash have stayed with them, with Ralph revealing he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She now gets nervous every time she has to enter a vehicle. This is a jarring departure from her former driving ease. I woke up Tuesday and just felt so exhausted,” she remembered. Honestly, I felt like I just went 12 rounds with Muhammad Ali.