Mets' Pete Alonso describes frightening car crash on his way to spring training
Mets first baseman Pete Alonso returns to the dugout after flying out during the ninth inning against the Cardinals at Citi Field on Sept. 15, 2021. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Pete Alonso is OK after suffering a terrifying experience Sunday when a driver ran a red light and rammed into his truck, causing it to flip over three times, he said Monday.
The crash happened in Tampa, Alonso’s hometown, at the start of what was supposed to be his drive across the state to Mets spring training. He was the only person in the vehicle and was not seriously injured.
"I’m thankful to be alive," said Alonso, who seemed visibly shaken a day later. "I’m really thankful that I’m healthy, very thankful to be here. Anything can happen at any given moment. I’m just really, really blessed to be here.
"One I was coming here to work, coming to spring training, and next thing I know, I’m kicking my windshield in trying to get out of a flipped-over car. Just really blessed to be here. Thankful nothing is wrong. Also thank you, Ford, for having great engineering."
Alonso’s wife, Haley, trailed behind him in another car with their dogs. She called the police and corralled people to help in the immediate aftermath, he said.
"I thought I watched my husband die in front of me and I will never forget that feeling," Haley Alonso wrote in an Instagram post Monday afternoon. "This could’ve easily unfolded much differently and that’s what is so scary."
The crash, which still is under investigation, happened shortly after 6 p.m. at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and Manhattan Avenue in Tampa, according to Jamel Lenee, a Tampa Police spokesperson.
Alonso said the people in the other car also were fine after the "brutal" crash.
"I was in my car following behind him and saw the whole thing happen in front of me," Haley Alonso wrote in her post, which showed Alonso’s mangled Ford F250 that came to rest on its side. "Once the car struck the side of his truck, it flipped three times and slid . . . I slammed on my , jumped out of my car and ran up to his truck. I was terrified of what I was going to see. I couldn’t see inside of the truck because the windshield was shattered.
"I screamed for him just hoping that he’d be able to answer me. He said he was OK and was going to kick out the windshield to escape since he was trapped. He got himself out and to everyone’s shock, only had a single scratch on his arm. It’s a miracle that he’s safe after this horrifying of an accident."
Manager Buck Showalter asked Alonso to tell the team about it during their Monday morning meeting, held before their first workout of camp, and Alonso obliged. He did some light baseball work Monday and said he will fully participate in the Mets’ activities Tuesday.
Baseball feels different this week, Alonso said.
"I just had a blast out there today, doing work, seeing everybody," he said. "I don’t think I’ve ever been happier showing up to spring training because again, it’s truly amazing how I’m here and again, I’m so fortunate that everyone’s OK and just really happy that my wife sprung into action when she did. She was a trouper yesterday. So a lot of emotional toll but here happy and healthy."
