Cal Poly baseball outfielder Alex McKenna is recovering after being involved in a car collision Oct. 18 at the intersection of Highland Drive and Santa Rosa Street. McKenna, a communications junior, is one of the top prospects for the 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, as he hit .356 last season with five home runs and 31 RBI.
McKenna was driving through the intersection when a truck ran a red light and hit his 1981 Ford F-150 on its front right side. McKenna’s truck spun around three times before stopping.
“I looked to my right and I didn’t see the guy coming because he was flying so fast,” McKenna said.
Immediately after, bystanders rushed to get him out of the truck, according to McKenna.
“My first reaction was just to check my body and make sure nothing was too serious,” McKenna said. “I obviously had a lot of adrenaline going and everything and couldn’t really feel anything.”
McKenna hit his head on his truck’s back window, causing a small split in his scalp. Though he received staples in his head, McKenna said he considers himself lucky not to be suffering from any major injuries. The driver that hit McKenna is also stable.
“It was pretty bad on both ends and the fact that we both got out of that OK is pretty amazing,” McKenna said.
McKenna said he believes that his truck is what kept him from suffering a more serious injury. The truck was passed down to McKenna from his great grandfather after he passed away.
“I think he was probably looking down on me and protecting me from up there, but I’m definitely very lucky,” McKenna said.
D1Baseball.com lists McKenna as No. 11 among outfielders for the 2018 MLB draft. McKenna said the accident shouldn’t be a big issue for him moving forward and as soon as the staples in his head are removed, he will be back playing.