American Pickers star Mike Wolfe is counting his blessings after he and his longtime girlfriend, Leticia Cline, survived a devastating car accident on Friday, September 12, that left them both hospitalized with serious injuries. The couple, who have been together since 2021, are now recovering and reflecting on the fragility of life — and the power of second chances.

Wolfe, 60, took to Instagram on Thursday, September 25, to share a heartfelt message alongside a black-and-white photo of him and Cline. The image was taken just hours before the accident occurred in Columbia, Tennessee, while the couple was working on a photo shoot for an upcoming book related to the motorcycle industry — a shared passion of theirs.

“This photo was taken a few hours before the accident,” Wolfe wrote in the caption. “Our friend @robbysphotos traveled to Columbia TN to shoot pics for an upcoming book @leticiacline and I will be in for the motorcycle industry. Everything that day was perfect… we had no idea what was to come.”

That evening, disaster struck. Wolfe described the terrifying ordeal, explaining that Leticia had to be airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries, while he was rushed there in an ambulance, drifting in and out of consciousness.

Both Wolfe and Cline were discharged from the hospital the following week, but the road to recovery has only just begun — especially for Leticia. She sustained multiple injuries including a fractured jaw, sternum, and ribs, along with a partially collapsed lung. She is expected to undergo several surgeries in the coming weeks, including having her jaw wired shut.

In his Instagram post, Wolfe shared how emotionally overwhelming it was to revisit the wrecked vehicle involved in the crash. “It was more emotional than I could ever imagine,” he admitted. “When your life is so close to being cut short, you find yourself recalibrating all that’s important. God has a plan and I’ve asked Him to shine His light and guide us.”

He ended the post on a deeply emotional note, writing: “This photograph will forever remind me of the day we got a second chance.”

Leticia Cline also shared a personal update with her followers last week, opening up about the extent of her injuries and the surgeries she will need to recover. Despite the physical and emotional trauma, Cline expressed gratitude for being alive.

“Even with all this, I know we are lucky,” she wrote. “I still have my teeth (though not in the right places), I avoided brain damage, and I am surrounded by an amazing team of doctors, our family, friends, and our pastor. For that, I am deeply grateful.”

Cline, who tragically lost her father in a highway accident when she was young, emphasized how close she came to repeating history. “Every moment is a gift, and I don’t take that lightly. I lost my father at a young age in an accident on the interstate, and I know all too well how suddenly life can be taken away. I would never wish that kind of pain on my son or on Mike’s daughter, and for that reason I am endlessly grateful that we are still here. Broken, yes, but alive, together, and given another chance to hold on to the people we love.”

Wolfe commented on Cline’s post, praising her strength and resilience throughout their recovery journey: “I’ve been witness to your strength and beauty through tough situations for years now. This is by far the hardest thing I have ever seen you climb up from. Through the pain, trauma, and scary moments, your light has shined bright. I see you stronger in mind, body, and soul than I ever have before… I’m in love with you, I’m proud of you, and I stand with you.”

Wolfe and Cline first went public with their relationship in August 2021. Despite their busy schedules and the challenges of long-distance love — Cline lives in Cave City, Kentucky, where she runs Ace Coffee, while Wolfe resides about two hours away in Leipers Fork, Tennessee — the couple has remained strong and supportive of one another.

Now, having faced death together and come out the other side, they are holding even tighter to the bond they share — and to the preciousness of life.