Los Angeles Angels radio announcer Terry Smith was involved in a frightening hit-and-run collision while covering the team’s Spring Training in Arizona this week.
Smith, who has been the radio voice of the Angels for 24 years, says he was fortunate to survive the accident, having escaped with just a thumb injury.
According to Doug Padilla of the Orange County Register, his car was destroyed by another vehicle traveling at an estimated 90 miles per hour in Phoenix on Wednesday.
The 70-year-old claims he was told by the first officer who arrived at the scene that he was ‘lucky to be alive’ after the crash. The other driver involved is still being pursued by police.
‘I feel extremely fortunate to be on the air with you,’ Smith said in his first radio broadcast back in the booth on Wednesday.
‘This was a harrowing experience for me and my family, but I am ready to go and give it a test today.
LA Angels radio announcer Terry Smith was involved in a frightening hit-and-run this week
Smith, who has been the radio voice of the Angels for 24 years, says he was lucky to survive
‘A lot of things have happened to me and my family over the last 72 hours and I’m extremely happy to be with you for today’s broadcast.’
Smith began his baseball broadcasting career calling games for the Jacksonville Suns in 1978 and then for the Memphis Chicks from 1981-82.
Before working for the Angels, Smith spent almost two decades as the play-by-play broadcaster for the New York Yankees’ former AAA affiliate the Columbus Clippers.
He also enjoyed 11 years as the voice of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and the Basketball Radio Network, working as a sports anchor, play-by-play announcer and talk show host for both.
