Was NBA Legend Dr. J’s Wife in the Car with Singer Teddy Pendergrass the Night of the Accident That Left Him Paralyzed?

The night of March 18, 1982, remains one of the most shocking moments in R&B history — the night soul legend Teddy Pendergrass was involved in a devastating car crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Over the years, countless rumors and speculations have surrounded that tragic event, with one of the most persistent being that NBA great Julius “Dr. J” Erving’s wife was in the car with him. But what really happened that night?

Here’s the truth.

Teddy Pendergrass, one of the biggest R&B stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s, was driving his Rolls-Royce through Philadelphia when the car lost control, crashed into a guardrail, and hit two trees. The accident left him severely injured and unable to walk.

The mystery began when reports surfaced about the passenger in the car — a woman named Tenika Watson, a nightclub performer and transgender woman. Because of the secrecy surrounding her identity at the time, tabloids began spreading wild theories about who she might be. One of the most notorious rumors falsely claimed that Dr. J’s wife, Turquoise Erving, was the passenger.

However, that rumor was completely untrue. Dr. J’s wife was not in the vehicle. The confirmed passenger was, in fact, Tenika Watson, who later gave multiple interviews describing the crash and her survival.

The mix-up likely stemmed from the media’s fascination with both Pendergrass’s fame and the circumstances surrounding the accident — a combination of mystery, celebrity, and tragedy that fueled gossip for years.

While Teddy Pendergrass’s life changed forever after that night, his story didn’t end there. Through resilience and faith, he continued to record music and inspire millions, proving that even in tragedy, true strength shines through.

So to set the record straight: No, Dr. J’s wife was not in the car with Teddy Pendergrass that night — just another myth born from one of R&B’s most unforgettable and heartbreaking moments.