If you saw the footage of the white Ferrari flipping like a toy through the Dallas air, you probably thought you were watching someone's final moments. Honestly, it’s a miracle we’re even talking about Errol Spence Jr. in the present tense. Most people remember the headlines, but the actual details of the Errol Spence car accident—and the ones that followed—paint a much more complicated picture of luck, ego, and a body that somehow refused to break.
It was 3 a.m. on October 10, 2019. Spence was at the top of the world, fresh off a grueling win against Shawn Porter. He was the "Big Fish," the undefeated king of the welterweights. Then, in a split second on South Riverfront Boulevard, he became a cautionary tale. He wasn't wearing a seatbelt. When the Ferrari 488 Spider hit the center median and started its violent roll, Spence was ejected from the vehicle.
He didn't just survive; he basically walked away.
The Night Everything Changed
The sheer physics of the crash don't make sense. Usually, when you get thrown from a car at high speed, the outcome is a closed casket. But Spence didn't even break a bone. He had facial lacerations and lost a bunch of teeth, but his skeleton remained intact. It’s the kind of luck that makes you feel invincible, which might explain some of the mindset shifts we saw in him later.
But the "no broken bones" narrative was a bit of a mask. It ignored the invisible damage. You don't get rag-dolled out of a supercar and come out the same person on a neurological level.
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The Legal Fallout and a Quiet Plea
For a while, the conversation stayed on the "miracle" aspect. Then the legal reality set in. In June 2022, Spence pleaded guilty to a DWI charge related to that October night. He admitted to drinking with friends before getting behind the wheel. He got three days in jail (with credit for time served) and a fine, but the real cost was the hit to his reputation. He eventually became a vocal advocate against drunk driving, telling fans: "Not one drink. It's not worth it."
The Accidents Nobody Talks About
Most fans think it was just that one night in the Ferrari. Kinda crazy, but there were actually two more.
- The PTSD Incident: About three months after the big one, Spence was rear-ended. While the physical damage was minor, he later admitted it messed with his head. He was dealing with legitimate PTSD, jumpy behind the wheel, wondering if every red light was a trap.
- The 2022 Head-On Collision: In December 2022, right as he was supposed to be negotiating the Terence Crawford mega-fight, his SUV was totaled by a 14-year-old kid who took his parents' car for a joyride. Spence was hit head-on. He complained of leg pain on Instagram Live right after it happened, but again, he survived.
You’ve got to wonder how many lives one guy gets.
Did the Errol Spence Car Accident Ruin His Prime?
This is the big debate in boxing gyms from Philly to Vegas. After the 2019 wreck, Spence came back and beat Danny Garcia. He looked good. Then he dismantled Yordenis Ugas, breaking the man's orbital bone. People said, "See? He's fine. He's the same guy."
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But then came July 2023. The Terence Crawford fight.
Spence looked slow. His timing was off. He seemed "stiff," as many analysts pointed out. Now, Crawford is an all-time great, and maybe he would have done that to a 2018 version of Spence too. But it's hard to ignore the wear and tear. Between the Errol Spence car accident, the subsequent eye surgeries (a detached retina in 2021 and cataract surgery in 2024), and the weight cuts, the "Big Fish" looked like a man whose body had finally started sending the bills for all those miracles.
The Teeth and the Ugas Fight
There’s a weird detail from the Ugas fight that people often misinterpret. At one point, Spence looked down at the canvas, almost ignoring Ugas. He got tagged hard because of it. He later explained that he thought his dental bridge (the one replacing the teeth he lost in the Ferrari crash) had been knocked out. He was literally looking for his teeth on the mat in the middle of a world title fight. That’s the kind of lingering baggage you don't see on a box score.
What to Watch for in 2026
As of January 2026, the rumor mill is spinning about a comeback. We're hearing names like Tim Tszyu. It’s been a long layoff since the Crawford loss, and honestly, the boxing world is split. Some want to see him go out on a win. Others think he’s done enough and should protect what’s left of his health.
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If you're following the career of Errol Spence Jr. now, you have to look past the win-loss record. You're looking at a guy who has survived three major vehicle incidents and still has the nerve to step into a ring. It’s either incredibly inspiring or deeply worrying, depending on who you ask.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Athletes
- Understand the Cumulative Effect: Injuries aren't just about what breaks; they're about the nervous system. Even if "nothing is broken," the body remembers trauma, which affects reaction speed.
- The Seatbelt Factor: It sounds like a PSA, but the only reason Spence isn't a statistic is luck. Don't count on being the 1% who gets ejected and lives.
- Mental Health in Sports: If you're an athlete who has gone through a traumatic event, the physical "clearance" from a doctor is only half the battle. Addressing PTSD is vital for performance.
- Watch the 2026 Return Carefully: If Spence fights this year, watch his feet and his head movement in the first two rounds. That will tell you more about the long-term impact of his accidents than any press conference ever will.
The story of the Errol Spence car accident isn't just about a wreck; it's about the thin line between being a "savage" and being human. He spent years trying to prove he was the former, but the latter eventually catches up to everyone.
Keep an eye on the official PBC announcements for his next date. Whether he wins or loses his next fight, he’s already beaten the odds just by being here to take it.