MUNCIE, Ind. — A teenager who lost control of his convertible after running a red light was thrown 30 feet from the car but surprised officers who found him with only minor injuries.

“He’s not 18 so he can’t buy lottery tickets, but if he was, I would tell him not to buy any lottery tickets today because he used up all his luck,” Sgt. Bruce Qualls said Thursday.

Police said Wesley Ethan Smith, 17, of Muncie ran a red light, then struck the tail end of a southbound semitrailer just before noon Thursday. The collision caused Smith’s car to spin until it hit a curb, ejecting Smith, who landed about 30 feet away on pavement, Qualls said.

Smith was not wearing a seat belt and Qualls said police don’t believe speed was a factor.

First responders braced for the worst when they arrived at the scene, expecting that he may have suffered a life-threatening head injury, Qualls said.

Instead, Smith was treated at Ball Memorial Hospital for two broken fingers and road rash to his head and released that afternoon.

His mother, Kathie Ditton, said the family is just happy he’s alive. She said her son might have to undergo skin graft surgery to repair the road rash.