Dax Shepard just revealed a terrifying moment from his teenage years when he truly believed his life was about to end.
On a recent episode of his Armchair Expert podcast, Shepard was chatting with co-host Monica Padman and guest Kaley Cuoco when the conversation unexpectedly veered into near-death experiences. After asking Cuoco if she had ever come close to dying, Shepard admitted he had. And the story he told left everyone stunned.
He recalled being a senior in high school, riding in the back of a Ford Probe hatchback as a friend drove them from Toledo to Detroit late at night. Tired and facing an early morning, Shepard decided to stretch out in the back and sleep while his friend handled the drive. The car was set to cruise control at 85 miles per hour.
Just as he was drifting off, Shepard said he heard the sound of gravel hitting the car. He looked up and saw something that instantly jolted him awake. The driver was completely slumped over.
Within seconds, the car had veered off the road and was moving sideways at highway speed. Shepard described the surreal moment of realizing they were no longer in control. He said he reached toward the wheel, but it was too late. The vehicle launched into the air and began rolling down the interstate.
He remembers thinking they were about to slam into a tree and that it would be over. What shocked him most was not the fear, but what came next. Shepard said a strange calm washed over him. For a brief moment, he felt an almost comforting acceptance that he was about to die.
The crash left a lasting imprint. Shepard said the experience changed him in ways he still feels today. He struggles to sleep in cars and is uncomfortable letting others drive when he is a passenger.
The story offered a rare glimpse into a moment that could have ended very differently. For Shepard, it remains one of the most intense and unforgettable experiences of his life.
