A Newcastle Knights supporter injured when a BMW struck fans on the roadside has described how he thought he was going to die as the car approached at speed.
Chris Clancy, 48, is being treated at John Hunter Hospital with a broken left collarbone, a fracture to his right foot, broken ribs and several small spinal fractures.
The foundation Knights supporter was among tens of thousands of fans gathered to farewell the team as it travelled to Sydney on Saturday morning. He had been standing with his two nephews on Newcastle Link Road, near the Transfield Drive roundabout in Wallsend.
Clancy said the car, driven by a P-plater, accelerated as it went through the roundabout, leaving him no time to move out of its path.
“The guy that was driving the car put his foot down when he got to the roundabout,” he said. “He put his foot down to show off.”
Clancy, an assistant manager at Kennards Hire in Heatherbrae, was due to undergo surgery on Saturday night or Sunday. He said he had asked doctors to complete the operation before the NRL grand final began at 7.30pm on Sunday.
