‘I thought I was going to die. The car was coming right at me’

One of the victims of the out-of-control car that ploughed into Knights fans, Chris Clancy, has spoken from his hospital bed about how the BMW car came at him so fast, he had no time to jump aside and thought he was going to die.

Clancy, a 48-year-old assistant manager at Kennards Hire at Heatherbrae and a foundation Knights supporter, is at John Hunter Hospital nursing a broken left collarbone, a fracture in his right foot, some broken ribs and some small spinal fractures.

He was due to undergo surgery on Saturday night or Sunday, although he has asked doctors to finish their work before the grand final kick-off at 7.30pm on Sunday.

He was among tens of thousands of Knights supporters lining the streets to farewell the team as it drove to Sydney on Saturday morning. He and his two nephews were waiting on Newcastle Link Road near the Transfield Drive roundabout in Wallsend.

Suddenly, he saw a car driven by a P-plater speed up as it drove through a roundabout. “The guy that was driving the car put his foot down when he got to the roundabout,” he told this masthead. “He put his foot down to show off.”

The driver lost control. The road was wet; it had been raining. “I didn’t have time to get out of the way,” he said. “No-one had time to move, it happened so fast.”

Most cars had been slowing down and beeping at supporters as they drove past. “Then this idiot has done that and ruined our day,” he said. “I honestly thought when the car was coming towards me that I was dead.

“I thought I was going to die. The car was coming right at me.”

Clancy said he was hit by the front of the BMW. His foot was injured after the initial impact, as the driver tried to move the car.

“I was conscious, I was on the ground,” he said. “About half a dozen people helped me up and put me on a seat. A lady by the name of Leanne stayed with me and my nephews. She deserves a big thanks. My nephew has autism and was more scared than anything; she stayed with us to make sure we were OK.

“I am angry. It was supposed to be good day. It’s left me lying here in the hospital bed, waiting to get up.”

A police car was parked nearby to block traffic and officers reacted quickly. Ambulance and fire trucks arrived in minutes.

One of Clancy’s nephews sustained a graze to his left elbow, but has been discharged and intended to get to the final. His other nephew has a graze and bruising but was likely to be discharged soon.

When asked whether he had a message for the Newcastle players, he urged them to play for the town.

“It will be tough for them, but do what they’ve always done and do it for the town,” he said. “I believe they can win. Regardless of whether they win or lose, they’ve done the town proud.

“Since 1988, I’ve been through [the] 1997 [and] 2001 [grand finals], I’ve been with them since they came in. I’ve watched every Knights game no matter when it’s on. I told [doctors] when they operate they have to make sure that I’m back up to watch the grand final.”

Star Knights player Kalyn Ponga responded to his Instagram post, saying “All the best with recovery mate! The team and community are with yas.”

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