Hit-and-run victim clings on to car for nearly 1km

An angry driver backed into a man in a car park and then sped off with him clinging to the boot before being stopped by police 1km down the road.

Justin Finch, 24, had allegedly been involved in a physical confrontation with three people in a car park in Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday after one of them called him a gay slur, Q13 Fox reports.

Having "slammed one of them to the ground", a car then backs up at speed, hops a curb and pins Mr Finch between two vehicles, as bystanders look on in horror.

The driver then speeds away with Mr Finch holding on.

"It was shocking. I was scared for my life for a minute and bam, I got pinched between two cars. This leg got twisted around and stuff. I'm like, afraid," Mr Finch said.

"They said it was a mutual thing, but I don't think it was a mutual thing because I didn't come at them, they came at me."

The car was eventually stopped by police nearly 1km away.

But not all are saying Mr Finch was the real victim in the situation.

"I turned around to walk outside and he assaulted me, he picked me up and I started defending myself," said 16-year-old Orlando Munoz, who was one of the people inside the car.

He was with his uncle and his uncle's girlfriend, who he says was driving.

Mr Munoz's mother Yvette, who is gay, says her son would never have used a gay slur.

"I think it's foolishness. Both parties should have walked away," Ms Munoz said.

Phoenix police say everyone involved at the time declined to press charges, but the case is now being forwarded to the unit that investigates hate crimes.

Source: Q13 Fox