Car hits Newcastle crowd, ten injured including three children

Ten people were injured, two of them critically, when a car struck a crowd of Newcastle Knights fans waiting to farewell the team bus at Wallsend in Newcastle on Saturday morning. A five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man were in a critical condition, and eight others were stable, New South Wales police said. Emergency services were called to Newcastle Link Road at the Transfield Drive roundabout about 9.30am.smh.com.au+1

The crash happened as thousands of fans lined the streets to send off the Knights before Sunday's National Rugby League grand final against the Sydney Roosters in Sydney. The scale of the injuries, including three children among the ten hurt, turned a celebratory farewell into an emergency response involving four helicopters and 15 ambulances. The team bus was diverted and the club changed its procession route.independent.co.uk

Why the crash matters now

Police said the driver was an 18-year-old man holding a P-plate, the Australian provisional licence for newly qualified drivers. He was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing, and had not been charged, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Eight others in a stable condition included a two-year-old girl, a second five-year-old girl, two women aged 31 and 63, and four men aged 24, 25, 48 and 57.

Newcastle mayor Gavin Morris told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the driver, who he said was a Knights fan, lost control while revving his car shortly before the team arrived. Morris said it appeared the young driver was excited and revving the car before going sideways into the crowd. A witness, Dylan Prior, said the car was revving a bit before it ran into a group of people.

Police said initial inquiries indicated the incident was not believed to be terror related, and that they had commenced an investigation into the circumstances. Footage posted on social media appeared to show the car being driven quickly around a roundabout shortly before the crash, with other images showing it had careened on to a footpath.

What police and the mayor said

The injured were treated at the scene by New South Wales ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter hospital. Emergency services responded with four helicopters and 15 ambulances on scene. Newcastle Link Road was closed in both directions, and the road is the major route to Sydney, with locals reporting more than 30 emergency responders and helicopters overhead.

The Newcastle Knights confirmed in an Instagram post that it had changed its route, apologising to fans who may have missed farewelling the team but saying public safety is our priority. Police appealed for fans to leave the area, acknowledging that many loyal supporters may have missed the opportunity to see the team, and asked the public to safely disperse and keep roadways clear.

New South Wales premier Chris Minns said it was heartbreaking to see fans who were sending off their grand final team involved in such a terrible incident, and that he hoped the whole community remains united as the response continues. Prime minister Anthony Albanese said he had spoken with Minns and offered the federal government's support, calling the incident horrible.

Where the injured were treated

Wallsend is a suburb of Newcastle, about 110 kilometres (68 miles) north of Sydney. Officers from Newcastle City Police District remained on scene, assisted by Traffic and Highway Patrol Command officers and New South Wales ambulance paramedics. The National Rugby League grand final between the Newcastle Knights and the Sydney Roosters is scheduled to be held in Sydney on Sunday. The Knights' team bus heading to Sydney for the grand final was diverted because of the incident, and the club said public safety is its priority.