Aston Villa fan ‘feared he was going to die’ when car hit supporters

Sam Jervis was left shaken and bruised after he was hit by a car that also crashed into other supporters on his way home from his side’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.

The 19-year-old, from Brereton, near Rugeley, was thrown onto the bonnet of a large black car near Witton Station, about half a mile from Villa Park, at around 5.10pm.

Police are searching for the hit-and-run driver who also collided with another woman and narrowly missed numerous other people at the intersection at Manor Road and Witton Road.

Sam told how he was about to catch the train home with boyfriend Ethan Poole when he heard shouting before being ‘cleared’ by the vehicle, which he was later told had four people inside.

“We were about to catch the train and I heard something, and then I heard my buddy Ethan say ‘Sam, watch out!’ shout,” the teenager remembers.

“I half turned and saw the car coming straight towards me. I didn’t have time to do anything before it swept me away and I was lying on the bonnet.

“The next thing I knew, I was on my way and Ethan shouted, ‘Sam, are you okay?’ – I didn’t know what had happened. Sam managed to get up, but said all he could remember was seeing the car coming towards him and thinking, ‘This could be game over for me.’

“Strangely, all I thought about was putting my hands up, as if that would stop a big car,” he added.

“I think it was lucky that it had rained so much; I slid on and off the bonnet a bit and then onto the road.

“I tried to jump up, I think it was the adrenaline, but I felt the pain in my hands and leg and my head was swimming a bit.

“A few other guys tried to chase the car but it just drove towards the roundabout at the Witton Arms pub, weaving through people and honking its horn.

“Someone told me afterwards that one of the people in the car may have gotten into a fight with someone who was chasing them, but it looks like whoever it was managed to get away.”

Sam, a football coach, went to hospital for a check-up on Monday but believes he made an incredibly fortunate escape.

“I have a bruised hand and a swollen knee and it feels like I have a tear in my groin as well as a few abrasions,” he continued. “But afterwards I realized how bad it could have been.

“My mate Ethan said I was thrown onto the car in the shape of a starfish – he said it was terrifying to see.” I reported it to a police officer in the area but have not heard from West Midlands Police yet.

West Midlands Police have been contacted for comment.