If you’ve watched even five minutes of American Pickers, you know Mike Wolfe isn't exactly a "safety-first, modern-SUV" kind of guy. He lives for the rust, the history, and the mechanical soul of vintage machines. But that passion for old-school engineering took a terrifying turn on a Friday evening in September 2025.
The news hit the fan-base like a lead pipe: Mike Wolfe and his longtime girlfriend, Leticia Cline, were involved in a "gruesome" collision in Columbia, Tennessee.
Social media went wild with speculation. Was he in the famous white Ford Transit van? Was he on one of his antique Harley-Davidsons? When the photos finally surfaced on Instagram, the reality was much more heartbreaking for classic car enthusiasts. The vehicle was a mangled heap of blue metal—a piece of automotive history that didn't stand a chance against a modern SUV.
What Kind of Car Was in the Mike Wolfe Car Accident?
For those wondering about the specific iron involved, Mike Wolfe was driving his vintage blue Porsche 356.
If you know Porsches, you know the 356 is the holy grail. It’s the model that put the German brand on the map before the 911 ever existed. These cars are lightweight, rear-engined, and—crucially—built long before crumple zones or airbags were a thing.
The accident happened on Highway 7. According to Leticia Cline’s accounts of the night, a man driving an SUV pulled out from a side street. Mike had basically zero time to react. The impact was a "front-on" collision that essentially totaled the classic Porsche.
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Why the Porsche 356 Matters
You might ask why he’d be driving such a rare bird on a random Friday.
Wolfe and Cline were actually in Columbia for a photo shoot. They were working on an upcoming book project centered around the motorcycle industry. Mike doesn't just collect these things to look at them in a museum; he actually drives them. That’s the "picker" way. But in this case, the lack of modern safety features in a 1950s or 60s sports car meant the injuries were far more severe than they would have been in a modern vehicle.
The Extent of the Injuries: More Than Just a Fender Bender
While Mike walked away with a broken nose, heavy facial bruising, and some stitches, Leticia Cline wasn't as lucky. The physics of an old Porsche versus a modern SUV are brutal.
Leticia had to be airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her list of injuries sounds like something out of a horror movie:
- A jaw broken in several places (her face actually hit the shattered window).
- Broken ribs and a broken sternum.
- A collapsed lung.
- Spinal swelling.
Months later, she was still dealing with trigeminal neuralgia—often called the "suicide disease" because of the intense, lightning-bolt pain it causes in the face. It’s heavy stuff. Mike has spent much of late 2025 and early 2026 by her side as she navigates surgeries and physical therapy to "wake her face back up."
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The Legal Aftermath and the "Drunk Driver" Allegations
This wasn't just an "oops" moment on the road. In December 2025, details emerged about the other driver, identified as 76-year-old Lerone Heads.
Cline didn't hold back on social media, calling out the legal system for what she felt was a "BS" plea deal. The driver was reportedly an alleged drunk driver with a lengthy rap sheet that included previous DUIs and even more serious charges.
It’s a stark reminder of how quickly a hobby—cruising in a vintage car you love—can turn into a life-altering tragedy because of someone else's choices. The case is still moving through the Tennessee courts as of early 2026, with more hearings scheduled to determine if the driver will face the full 15-year sentence Cline and Wolfe are hoping for.
Is the Porsche 356 Totaled?
Short answer: Yes.
The photos Wolfe shared showed the front end of the blue Porsche completely pancaked. For a car worth six figures, the "totaled" label is usually about the cost of labor versus the value, but with a 356, the structural damage was likely beyond a simple fix.
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There is some chatter in the car community that the remains might go to J3 Restorations in Columbia, owned by Mike’s friend Rich Ewald. If anyone can bring a dead Porsche back to life, it’s those guys. But for now, that blue beauty is off the road.
What This Means for Mike's Collection
Mike has been thinning out his collection lately anyway. He recently auctioned off a huge chunk of his "As Found" motorcycle collection at Mecum.
Between the death of his longtime partner Frank Fritz in late 2024 and this traumatic accident in 2025, Mike seems to be shifting gears. He’s even closed his Nashville Antique Archaeology store to focus on a slower pace of life back in Iowa.
You’ll still see him on American Pickers, and he’s even teased a new show with the History Channel, but the days of him flying down Tennessee backroads in a fragile vintage Porsche might be over.
Next Steps for Classic Car Owners
If you’re a vintage car enthusiast inspired (or terrified) by Mike’s story, it’s worth reviewing your insurance policy. Standard "Blue Book" insurance won't cover the true value of a Porsche 356 or a rare Hudson truck. Look into Agreed Value Insurance (like Hagerty or Grundy) which pays out a pre-set amount if the car is totaled, rather than a depreciated market value. Additionally, consider upgrading your vintage ride with modern lap-and-shoulder belts; they won't make it a Volvo, but they can be the difference between a broken nose and something much worse.