Derek Shepherd dies in Grey's Anatomy Season 11, Episode 21 , titled "How to Save a Life." In this episode, Derek is involved in a car accident while driving to Washington, D.C. to resign from his job. Although he initially helps victims of another accident, he is then hit by a semi-truck and suffers critical injuries. At the hospital, a delay and mistake in ordering a head CT scan lead to his brain injury being undetected in time. Despite efforts, Derek is declared brain dead, and Meredith Grey makes the difficult decision to take him off life support
. This episode marked a significant and emotional turning point in the series, as Derek was a central character and Meredith's husband. His death was the result of both the accident and medical errors at the hospital where he was treated. Derek's spirit later appears in Meredith's visions during Season 17 when she battles COVID-19
