Ronn Moss Car Accident: The Untold Story, The Trauma, and The Triumphant Return
For over two decades, Ronn Moss was the undisputed king of daytime TV. As Ridge Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful, he was the handsome, swaggering fashion magnate who had it all—money, power, and romance. Millions of fans welcomed him into their living rooms every single day, seeing him as unbreakable. But in July 2012, the script of his real life took a violent, unscripted turn that no director could call “cut” on.
A terrifying car accident in the heart of Los Angeles brought his fast-paced world to a sudden halt. It wasn’t just a fender bender; it was a life-altering collision that forced a TV icon to make the hardest choice of his career. This is the true story of how a split second of chaos on the freeway became the catalyst for a total personal reinvention.
How the Ronn Moss Accident Happened
When we hear about celebrity accidents, it’s easy to detach and think of them as just headlines. But for Ronn Moss, this wasn’t a headline; it was a terrifying reality that unfolded in seconds. The crash didn’t just damage a vehicle; it shook the very foundation of his daily existence.
A Normal Day Turns Into Chaos
It started as a completely typical Tuesday afternoon in July 2012. Moss and his wife, Devin DeVasquez, were driving through Los Angeles in their brand-new truck. They were running errands, chatting, and doing what any couple does on a weekday. The LA traffic was stiff, as it always is, and they found themselves stuck in the rush-hour gridlock.
They were completely stopped, waiting for the sea of red lights to move. In that moment of stillness, they felt safe. They had no idea that a vehicle behind them was barreling forward at high speed, failing to slow down for the traffic ahead.
The 8-Car Chain Reaction
The impact was explosive. The speeding vehicle slammed into the rear of their truck with such massive force that it didn’t just push them forward—it spun their heavy truck around like a toy. The violence of the collision triggered a massive 8-car chain reaction.
Metal twisted, glass shattered, and light posts were knocked to the ground. In the blink of an eye, their brand-new truck was totaled—a heap of scrap metal. Moss later said that if they hadn’t been in such a sturdy vehicle, they might not have walked away at all. It’s a chilling reminder of how unpredictable city driving can be. We see similar chaotic scenes in tragedies like the Luis Sanchez Boston car accident, where a routine commute turns into a nightmare due to sudden, unforeseen factors on the road. For Moss, the physical wreckage was cleared away, but the internal damage was just beginning.
The Hidden Injuries and Physical Trauma
Walking away from a crash like that often gives you a false sense of security. At the scene, adrenaline takes over. It acts as nature’s painkiller, masking the broken parts of you so you can survive the moment. Moss and his wife initially thought they were fine, escaping with just cuts and bruises. But the body keeps the score, and the real pain was waiting for the adrenaline to fade.
When the Body Says “Stop”
A few days after the crash, the reality set in. Moss began to feel a strange and alarming sensation—or rather, a lack of sensation. He developed what he called a “dead arm.” His left arm would go numb, shooting with pain from a severe shoulder injury that he hadn’t noticed in the heat of the moment.
Simple things, like lifting a cup or getting dressed, became painful hurdles. His body, which he had kept in peak condition for his demanding role, was suddenly screaming at him to stop. It was a physical wake-up call that he couldn’t ignore.
Memory Loss and The Neurological Toll
While the shoulder pain was agonizing, the invisible injury was the one that truly terrified him. The sheer force of the head-whipping motion during the spin had caused a traumatic brain injury (TBI), leading to Post-Concussion Syndrome.
For 25 years, Moss’s job was entirely dependent on his memory. He had to memorize 40 to 50 pages of dialogue every single day, a mental marathon he had run effortlessly for decades. But after the crash, his mind felt like it was stuck in a fog. The words just wouldn’t stick. He would look at a script he had studied, and the lines would vanish. For an actor, this wasn’t just a symptom; it was a threat to his entire livelihood.
Impact on Professional Life
When Ronn Moss announced he was leaving The Bold and the Beautiful after 25 years, the entertainment world was stunned. The tabloids went wild with theories. Was it a fight over money? Did he hate the storylines? Was he fired? The public speculation was endless, but the truth was far more personal and heartbreaking.
The Saddest Story: Choosing Health Over Fame
Moss eventually set the record straight: the car accident was the final straw. It wasn’t about a contract dispute or a paycheck. It was about survival. He realized that his body and brain were broken, and the relentless grind of a daily soap opera was preventing him from healing.
He faced a brutal choice: keep pushing himself for the sake of the show and potentially suffer permanent damage, or walk away from the role of a lifetime to save his health. He chose himself. It was a brave decision, proving that even the biggest stars are human beings who sometimes have to put their well-being above their fame.
The Struggle with Scripts
The transition wasn’t easy. Moss described the sheer panic of standing on set, trying to deliver lines as Ridge Forrester, and finding his mind blank. The memory issues from the concussion made the work he used to love feel like torture.
He realized he couldn’t deliver the performance the fans deserved, and more importantly, he couldn’t keep pretending he was okay. The Ronn Moss car accident had taken away his ability to keep up with the fast lane of Hollywood, but as he would soon discover, it opened an off-ramp to a new, more peaceful life.
Fan Reactions and Global Support
The news of the accident didn’t just stay within the confines of industry tabloids; it rippled out to the millions of fans who had welcomed Ronn Moss into their homes for years. When a figure as steady and reliable as Ridge Forrester faces mortality, it shakes the audience.
A Community in Shock
Almost immediately after the reports surfaced, the internet became a gathering place for concerned viewers. Social media platforms were flooded with messages of support. Hashtags like #PrayForRonnMoss and #GetWellSoonRonn started trending, creating a digital wave of positivity.
For Moss, this wasn’t just noise. He later expressed how deeply moved he was by the sheer volume of love coming from places as far as Italy, Australia, and France. In a moment where he felt physically broken, this global embrace provided a mental boost that no medicine could offer. It reminded him that his value wasn’t just in his ability to memorize lines, but in the human connection he had built over decades.
Shared Trauma and Resilience
The incident also opened the door for a deeper conversation about trauma. Many fans began sharing their own stories of car accidents and recovery, creating a unique bond of shared resilience.
This kind of sudden, violent event affects more than just the driver; it impacts the entire family unit. We often see this dynamic in other high-profile incidents, such as the shocking details about Martin Clunes wife’s accident revealed, where the focus shifts to how couples and families navigate the terrifying aftermath of a crash together. For Moss, reading these stories helped him realize he wasn’t alone in his struggle to find a “new normal.”
The Road to Recovery: Healing and Reflection
Healing from a traumatic brain injury and severe physical trauma is not a sprint; it is a marathon with no clear finish line. For Moss, the first step was accepting that he couldn’t “tough it out.” He had to surrender to the process.
Finding Peace Away from the Limelight
For the first time in his adult life, Moss stepped away from the cameras and the red carpets. He retreated into a quieter existence, focusing entirely on his well-being. This wasn’t a vacation; it was a rehabilitation period.
He spent months undergoing physical therapy to regain the feeling and strength in his arm. But the mental work was just as intense. He found solace in simple, grounding activities—walking in nature, listening to music, and spending uninterrupted time with his wife. This period of silence allowed the noise of Hollywood to fade, giving him the clarity to see what truly mattered.
The Complexity of Spousal Trauma
We cannot overlook the experience of his wife, Devin DeVasquez. She was in the passenger seat when the world spun out of control. While she escaped with fewer physical scars, the emotional impact of seeing her husband in pain and their vehicle destroyed was immense.
They leaned on each other heavily during those months. Their home became a fortress against the outside world. By facing the recovery process as a team, they turned a horrific event into a foundation for a stronger, deeper marriage. They proved that sometimes, the worst moments in life are the ones that bond us the tightest.
Life After the Crash: A Musical and Cinematic Reinvention
Many people feared that leaving The Bold and the Beautiful meant Ronn Moss would disappear into retirement. They were wrong. The accident didn’t stop him; it just redirected his energy back to his first love: Music.
Making a Comeback Stronger Than Before
Long before he was a soap opera star, Moss was a rock musician. He is a founding member of the band Player, famous for the classic hit “Baby Come Back.” Once his health stabilized, he picked up his bass guitar with a renewed sense of purpose.
He began touring extensively, finding a massive and welcoming audience in Europe. In Italy, he is treated with the reverence of a rock god. Performing live offered him a different kind of rush than acting—it was immediate, emotional, and didn’t require memorizing 50 pages of script. It was pure feeling, and it was exactly the therapy he needed.
New Projects and Creative Freedom
The crash also gave him the courage to take the reins of his own career. He stopped waiting for roles and started creating them. He ventured into independent filmmaking, directing and starring in movies like the western Tex McKenzie.
He also produced and starred in Surprise Trip, a project that allowed him to blend his love for travel with comedy. These projects represent his new philosophy: work on what you love, with people you like, at a pace that keeps you healthy. He has effectively traded the golden handcuffs of a network contract for the creative freedom of an independent artist.
Latest Updates: The “Unexpected Turn”
As time has passed, new discussions about the 2012 accident have emerged, adding a fresh layer to the story.
New Twist to the Ronn Moss Road Accident
While the crash was initially seen as a simple case of a reckless driver hitting them, recent reports and investigations have hinted at external factors. There is growing scrutiny regarding the road safety measures and traffic flow design in that specific area of Los Angeles during rush hour.
Some sources suggest that poor signage or confusing lane merges may have contributed to the chain reaction that day. This “twist” changes the narrative from bad luck to a broader issue of city infrastructure. For Moss, it validates his feeling that life can change in a heartbeat due to forces completely out of your control, reinforcing his decision to live fully in the present.
Where Ronn Moss Stands Today (2025 Update)
So, where is the man behind the myth today? If you look for him, you won’t find him sulking about the past.
Current Health and Career Status
As of late 2025, Ronn Moss is 73 years old and thriving. He is in excellent health, having managed the long-term effects of his injuries through discipline and positivity. He divides his time between Los Angeles and his beloved Italy, continuing to tour with his band and produce films.
Lessons Learned from the Accident
Moss often refers to the accident not as a tragedy, but as a “spiritual stop sign.”
- Gratitude: He wakes up thankful for another day.
- Health First: He knows now that no paycheck is worth his physical well-being.
- Reinvention: He is living proof that you can start a whole new chapter in your 60s and 70s.
FAQs
Is Ronn Moss Still Married?
Yes, Ronn Moss is still happily married to Devin DeVasquez. They married in September 2009 and have remained a strong unit, surviving the 2012 accident together and continuing to support each other’s creative ventures.
What is Ronn Moss’s Net Worth?
As of 2025, estimates place Ronn Moss’s net worth between $12 million and $15 million. This wealth is a combination of his long tenure on daytime TV, music royalties, and his independent film productions.
Does Ronn Moss Have Kids?
Yes, he has two daughters, Creason Carbo and Caleb Maudine, from his previous marriage to Shari Shattuck. He is a proud father who keeps his family life relatively private.
What Kind of Accident Did Ronn Moss Have?
Ronn Moss was involved in a severe multi-car chain reaction accident in July 2012. His truck was rear-ended at high speed while stopped in traffic, causing it to spin and crash into a light pole. The accident resulted in a traumatic brain injury and severe shoulder damage.
Final Thoughts
The story of the Ronn Moss car accident is not a tragedy; it is a triumph of spirit. It is the story of a man who was forced to stop everything and, in doing so, found himself again. The crash stripped away the character of Ridge Forrester, but it revealed the true Ronn Moss—a survivor, a musician, and a man who refused to let a disaster define his ending. His journey is a powerful reminder that even when the road runs out, we can always pave a new path.
