From ‘The Bachelor’ to second DWI: Former Cowboys cheerleader Melissa Rycroft seeks help after crashing into ambulance on Halloween
The reality tv star has spoken publicly about difficulties and impact on her family after another troubling incident
Melissa Rycroft spent years building a television career after rising to fame as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, but the former Bachelor contestant is now facing another legal controversy that has prompted a deeply personal admission about her life away from the cameras.
The 43-year-old was arrested following a Halloween collision involving an ambulance in Southlake, Texas, marking her second driving while intoxicated case in just over a year.
Rather than remaining silent about the latest incident, Rycroft addressed her followers on Instagram on November 3, acknowledging the distress her circumstances have caused those closest to her.
"First, please know how deeply ashamed and embarrassed I am, especially knowing how much this has affected my friends and family," she wrote.
The television personality explained that she had been dealing with private difficulties for some time, despite maintaining a positive public appearance.
"I've been struggling with my mental health for quite some time now. It has completely overwhelmed me," Rycroft admitted.
Her statement came just months after she pleaded guilty to an earlier DWI offense, adding another complication to a legal situation that remains unresolved.
Melissa Rycroft faces second DWI charge
According to the Southlake Police Department, officers responded to a reported collision shortly before 6 p.m. on October 31 involving a Southlake Fire Department ambulance.
Investigators alleged that another vehicle struck the ambulance while it was stopped at a stop sign before leaving the scene. Police subsequently located the vehicle and identified Rycroft as its driver.
No injuries were reported, although the former NFL cheerleader was charged with a second DWI offense, driving with an invalid license and an accident involving property damage exceeding $200.
The arrest followed a separate incident in September 2025, when Rycroft crashed her Cadillac Escalade into a tree and was arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving.
She pleaded guilty in August 2026 and received 20 months of probation, alongside additional financial penalties and court requirements.
Admission of need for professional help
Rycroft first attracted national attention through the 13th season of The Bachelor before becoming a familiar television personality through Dancing With the Stars, winning the competition's all-star season in 2012.
She shares three children with her husband, Tye Strickland , and emphasized that her family's support had become particularly important during her recent difficulties.
"No excuses at all, but I'm finally admitting that I need help. I've fought this for a long time on my own, and it's time to admit that I can't do it anymore," she wrote.
Rycroft confirmed that she was receiving professional care and expressed her determination to regain a sense of stability.
"I'm ready to feel like myself again, for me and for my family. They have stood by me through all of this, and they deserve honesty," she added.
Her decision to speak publicly marks a significant moment for the former reality star, although her personal statement does not resolve the criminal allegations she now faces.
