Hero Royal Family Hotel worker Jonathon Hogg out of coma after Port Elliot crash

The 22-year-old amateur bowler suffered the worst injuries of all five victims in the horrific incident south of Adelaide.

The Port Elliot bottle shop worker who was mowed down in an alleged hit and run last week is awake after being taken out of an induced coma.

On early Saturday morning, Jonathon Hogg stepped in to defuse an altercation outside of the Royal Family Hotel where he worked.

A New South Wales man, whose alleged hooning allegedly provoked a street fight with patrons, has been accused of entering his car and deliberately reversing into the group just after 1.30am.

The 22-year-old amateur bowler suffered the worst injuries of all five victims, and underwent emergency surgery to his head and legs.

Jonathon Hogg,

Mr Hogg is the youngest member of Port Elliot Bowling Club, where he has played and volunteered for the past six years according to members.

One member who did not wish to be named described the incident as “sick” and said “you couldn’t hear a cross word about (Mr Hogg)”.

“Inoffensive is the word I would use, he is just the nicest person,” the man said.

“We used to stir him up, you know, because we’re older and he was young, and he always took it well.

“It’s just so unfortunate for him ... Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, we’re all thinking about him.”

The 37-year-old driver returned to the scene shortly after the crash and has been charged with a slew of dangerous driving offences.

Emergency workers tend to one of the victims. Picture: Gary Juleff

Royal Family Hotel in Port Elliot. Picture: Matt Loxton

Footage captured by a bystander showed the blue Ford sedan appearing to speed away from the group, some of whom were punching and kicking his car.

The car suddenly stops and reverses in the opposite direction, knocking several people off their feet.

Superintendent Darren Fielke, officer in charge of SA Police’s Traffic Services Branch, told The Advertiser it was “horrific” viewing.

“I think it probably made everyone sort of stop and stare at their televisions and be really concerned for the victim, and the other witnesses, and the other people that were hurt during the incident,” Supt Fielke said.

“We do know that, fortunately, that the person who received the most injuries, he’s out of the life-threatening status at the moment, but he’s going to have some injuries that are going to change his life forever and his life will never be the same.

“This is how quickly things can escalate, this is how quickly things can happen.

“That could have ended significantly more tragic than what it has and we’re lucky for that, - but there was no need for that to ever happen.”

The accused driver Eric Cooper was refused bail to appear before the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Tuesday.