Photo: Pete Alonso/instagram. Inset: getty

Pete Alonso

Pete Alonsois “thankful to be alive” after a near-death experience.

“Yesterday I got in a really kinda brutal car accident. … To me this is just really special to be here,” he said on Monday, according toESPN. “This is a really special spring training because yesterday was a really close experience to death.”

“I’m thankful to be alive. 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 [moment] 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,” Pete added.

Tampa Police Department tells PEOPLE that the accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. and is under investigation. The other driver was issued a citation for running a red light and a passenger in their vehicle went to the hospital as a precaution, although only minor injuries were reported.

Haley, whom Petemarriedin November,shared photos and videoof the mangled vehicle at the scene, after witnessing the crash from her own car as she followed behind.

“Once the car struck the side of his truck, it flipped 3 times and slid into where you see it in these videos,” she wrote. “I slammed on my breaks, jumped out of my car and ran up to his truck. I was terrified of what I was going to see.”

She recounted screaming his name since she couldn’t see through the broken windshield, which he kicked out to escape.

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“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. I thought I watched my husband die in front of me and I will never forget that feeling,” Haley added.

Pete, who wasnamed NL Rookie of the Yearin 2019, is coming off another successful season with the Mets, hitting his 100th career home run in September.

source: people.com