Popular AFL figure Iain “Fingers” Findlay is recovering in hospital after sustaining severe injuries in a violent road rage incident on Melbourne’s Monash Freeway.
Findlay – a former team manager for Essendon, Fitzroy (Lions), South Melbourne (Sydney) and Victoria, and a former AFL tribunal advocate – was attacked last Thursday night and remains in hospital undergoing treatment.
“A guy pulled up and threw a rock at the car so I tried to push him over to the side to get his details,” Findlay told 7NEWS reporter Xander McGuire.
“And as I got out of the car, he gunned his car straight at me, smashed into me, trapped me and travelled for about 80 metres with me underneath the car.”
Findlay, a Vietnam veteran and former police detective of 21 years, said he had never witnessed anything like the incident.
After being dragged along the road, the 78-year-old was left lying on the freeway until a nurse and a doctor stopped to render aid.
Two passing semi-trailers then positioned their vehicles to shield him from oncoming traffic.
Doctors have told Findlay he will require at least another month in The Avenue Hospital in Melbourne to undergo skin graft procedures.
McGuire noted, “there’s no way to measure the psychological impact on Findlay and his wife”, adding that Findlay still displayed a “bone-crushing” handshake and unwavering determination.
“One thing’s for certain, Iain Findlay is lucky to be alive,” McGuire said.
Police confirmed to 7NEWS that a 19-year-old man driving a Toyota Yaris pulled up beside Findlay before fleeing the scene. He was stopped by good samaritans a short distance away and arrested.
Police said the incident remained under investigation as a “hit-run collision” and that the 19-year-old was expected to be charged on summons.
“It is understood the driver of a Lexus sedan exited his vehicle and went to confront the driver of a Toyota Yaris before he was struck by the vehicle,” a police statement said.
“Investigators believe the drivers were involved in a road rage incident prior to the collision.
“The driver of the Lexus, a 77-year-old man, was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“The driver of the Toyota, a 19-year-old man, fled the scene before he was stopped by good samaritans a short distance away and arrested by police.”
Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with dashcam or CCTV of the incident to come forward as the investigation continues.
Images: 7NEWS
