Beloved Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd is dead. The fact he is a fictional character does not make his death any easier for long-time fans of "Grey's Anatomy."

In case you missed it, here is what happened on Sunday's episode 21 "How To Save A Life":

Derek was driving to the airport when a car accident occurred right in front of his eyes. A sports car races around his vehicle and crashes into a large SUV before blowing up. Derek managed to avoid becoming part of the horrible crash and stopped to help the victims.

He went first to the SUV, where he comforted a child named Winnie who thought she was dead. Derek told her so long as she can feel her pulse, she's not dead.

Derek could not find his phone in his car, and no one else's cell phone has reception. Luckily, the sports car that blew up sent smoke signals. Help arrived. Derek helped get the victims into ambulances headed for the hospital. He hugged Winnie goodbye, got in his car, reached down to feel for his phone on the floorboard and then it happened.

A semi-truck T-boned his car.

In the next scene, he gets medical care at a hospital that initially refused him because they did not have a suitable trauma unit. The medical care is inadequate because the staff is not properly trained to deal with trauma.

Derek could not speak, but viewers could hear his thoughts through his ongoing inner monologue. He assessed his own health. He told doctors what to do to save him.

"I'm going to die because these people aren't properly trained," he thought, and he was right.

The only positive was that Winnie, waiting with her mom in the emergency room, saw Derek and was able to tell doctors his name.

Later, the police arrived up at Meredith's house to inform her about Derek's accident.

Meredith took her children to the hospital, where they are told that Derek is brain dead. The doctor that failed to save Derek apologized to Meredith, and she accepted the apology with a dose of tough love about how the physician should learn from the experience and be better prepared for next time.

After that, Meredith went into Derek's hospital room to disconnect him from life support. Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" song played in the background. "Derek," Meredith whispered. "It's okay. You go. We'll be fine."

A montage of their loving and happy moments together played before a nurse asked Meredith if she was ready. "No," Meredith said. "But go ahead."

And with that, Derek was gone.

In Thursday's two-hour special, "She's Leaving Home," we will see how the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital doctors cope after they learn of Derek's death, and how Meredith deals with the loss. April makes a shocking decision that Jackson cannot understand. Bailey and Ben argue over their future. Owen delivers the devastating news of Derek's death to Amelia. Callie is revisited by her police officer patient.

Derek was a beloved character on the show; do you believe his absence will hurt the show? Do you think Meredith can move forward after his death and love again? What do you want to see happen with the characters following Derek's death? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Watch Episode 22 "She's Leaving Home" on Thursday, April 30, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.