TAMPA — Ichiro Suzuki was fortunate to avoid serious injury Saturday when his Land Rover was destroyed by another vehicle in a postgame accident at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and West Kennedy Boulevard.
In fact his slender body wasn’t even sore before participating in a workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday morning when he took batting practice.
“Not at all,’’ the Yankees’ right fielder said when asked if his 39-year-old body was sore. “I almost want my body to feel something, but my body didn’t react. I guess you can say that you are going to have to do a lot worse for me to get hurt.’’
Ichiro was traveling south on Dale Mabry, the road that runs by GMS Field, when the three-car accident occurred and forced the Land Rover’s air bag to go off.
“I had the green light and entered the intersection. The car turned left and was turning into me,’’ Ichiro said. “I slammed on the brakes and couldn’t do anything about it.’’
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Linda Trange Le, who failed to yield the right of way when making a left hand turn in front of Ichiro, according to Tampa police, was given a summons.
“He struck her,” Tampa Lt. Ronald McMullen said. “She ended up hitting a third car, but there were no injuries.”
In order to be sure the accident didn’t leave a hard-to-detect injury, Ichiro was slated to be seen by a doctor following yesterday’s workout.
Ichiro was concerned for Trange Le.
“She is OK and I am very thankful that everyone is OK,’’ Ichiro said of Trange Le, whose car was also totaled. “She was very distraught and apologetic from the beginning. Of course I felt grateful but more grateful that she was OK and there was no real big injuries.’’
The Yankees and Ichiro were fortunate he wasn’t hurt. Already without outfielder Curtis Granderson until at least early May due to a fractured forearm, the team couldn’t afford to lose its right fielder and a hitter it is counting on to bat near the top of the lineup.