Nathan and Heidi's accident

Heidi is injured in a car accident

Approximately six months ago, Nathan Petrelli and his wife Heidi were in a car accident that left Heidi paralyzed and wheelchair-bound.

About

Genesis

While arguing with his mother that he and Nathan do share a special bond, Peter tells her that he sensed Nathan's accident as it happened.

Nothing to Hide

Nathan's wife, Heidi, tries to convince Nathan to have Oliver Dennison from the New York Journal over for brunch as good PR for Nathan's campaign. When Nathan expresses disinterest, Heidi tells Nathan that she knows he is trying to protect her, but she doesn't need the protection. She has remained out of public view in order to keep Nathan from looking weak, but she assures her husband that she can help him. When Nathan finally agrees to the brunch, she pulls away, confined to a wheelchair.

Dennison tells Heidi that she appears to be adjusting well to life in a wheelchair. Heidi tells Oliver that she's alright, even though she was angry for a while. Oliver asks if she means angry at Nathan, since he was driving at the time of the accident; Heidi tells Oliver that she was mad at God, but has since made her peace.

Later, Heidi comes in the house and asks Nathan if he still loves the woman with whom he was reported to have an affair. Heidi tells Nathan that she needs hope if she is to walk again. Nathan falsely admits that his meeting with Niki at the Las Vegas casino was to help Peter with his depression.

Six Months Ago

Nathan and Heidi are returning from a party for Nathan's brother Peter Petrelli, and a passenger truck rams their car into water barriers on the side of the road. Nathan instinctively launches himself out of the car — the first instance of his power of flight — and he watches from above as his wife crashes alone in the car. He falls, injuring his forehead.

Peter wakes from a vision, somehow sensing exactly when Nathan had his accident; he later relays this to his mother.

At the hospital, Peter meets Nathan, and they discuss the accident. Somehow, Peter knows that there was another vehicle, and together deduce that an employee of Mr. Linderman is responsible for running them off the road, as the mob boss must have found out about the prosecution case against him. After 10 hours of surgery, Heidi's surgeon comes for Nathan, and Nathan learns that the accident has left Heidi in a wheelchair.

Gallery

• 
  Nathan awkardly flies for the first time.
• 
  Nathan views the accident from above. Peter has a similar vision at the same time.
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  Nathan receives news of his wife's condition from a surgeon.
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  As a result of the accident, Heidi is confined to a wheelchair.

Notes

• Heidi claims she was upset at God for the accident originally, but has since made peace.
• Heidi is led to believe that Nathan had an affair in Las Vegas after an interview with Oliver Dennison. She blames her wheelchair for his probable infidelity.
• It is unclear if Nathan remembers flying or not to escape the crash; even if he does remember, he hides the fact that he has his power for another six months. It's also unclear whether Heidi remembers Nathan disappearing from the car. (Genesis)
• Peter comments that he knew about the accident "300 miles away". There was a party was at Peter's apartment in Manhattan, and Nathan and Heidi live on Long Island. If the accident did occur 300 miles away, then it's unclear where Nathan and Heidi were headed. (Six Months Ago)