Ten people have been injured, one critically, after a car crashed into a crowd of people in Newcastle waiting to farewell the Knights team bus before the NRL grand final.
New South Wales police said a five-year-old girl remained in a critical but stable condition in an induced coma after the crash on Saturday morning.
Initially a 67-year-old man was also in a critical. The man is now in a serious but stable condition.
John Hunter hospital provided an update to Australian Associated Press on Saturday night confirming five other patients were in a stable condition and three others had been discharged.
The injured were treated on the scene by NSW ambulance paramedics, before being taken to hospital.
Police said the P-plate driver was an 18-year-old man who was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for mandatory testing and subsequently charged with nine offences including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving and causing bodily harm by misconduct.
He was refused bail to appear in court on Sunday.
Assistant Commissioner Dave Waddell said two other people allegedly in the car were escorted from the crash scene after the crowd turned on them.
Police did not believe the incident was deliberate but declined to comment on reports the vehicle was allegedly being driven erratically before the accident.
“I’ll let the investigators from the crash investigation unit deal with that,” Waddell told reporters.
The police minister, Yasmin Catley, said so many lives had been affected by a split-second decision, as she urged other drivers to take care over the NSW long weekend.
“We have already started Saturday morning with this devastation,” she said.
“Nobody can comprehend what has happened with this terrible tragedy.”
The roads minister, Jenny Aitchison, said the incident could have been worse, with more than 1,000 people gathered in the area where it occurred.
Emergency services were called to Newcastle Link Road at the Transfield Drive roundabout in Wallsend about 9.30am on Saturday after reports a vehicle struck multiple people in a crowd.
“Several people have been injured and are currently receiving treatment at the scene,” police said.
“Police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, with initial inquiries indicating it is not believed to be terror related.”
Gavin Morris, the mayor of Newcastle, told the ABC that the driver, who he said was a Knights fan, lost control while revving his car shortly before the team arrived.
“I’ve spoken to the authorities, a number of which, and look, first of all, it is under investigation, and the young driver is now with police, so it appears that he was revving the car in some form. He was excited. He was a supporter. He was, you know, a fan,” Morris said.
“It appears that he’s lost control of the car, and he’s gone … sideways into the crowd.”
Footage posted on social media appeared to show a car being driven quickly around a roundabout shortly before the crash.
Other images showed it had careened off the road soon afterwards.
A witness to the incident, Dylan Prior, told ABC News that the car was “revving a bit” before it ran into a group of people.
“I saw some young kids go flying, and people running to help the victims,” he said.
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“Everyone was yelling and hysterical, yelling at the driver.
“They were screaming for help.”
The Newcastle Link Road was closed in both directions, leading to the diversion of the Knights grand final procession.
The club 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.
“Police acknowledge many loyal supporters may have missed the opportunity to see the team and show their support.
“Members of the public are asked to safely disperse from the area and keep roadways clear to assist emergency services and traffic management efforts.
“Police thank the community for their patience, cooperation and assistance.”
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said his thoughts were with the families and friends of those injured.
“It’s heartbreaking to see fans who were sending off their grand final team involved in such a terrible incident,” he said. “We’ve seen how this grand final has brought Newcastle together, and I hope the whole community remains united as we continue to respond.”
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he had spoken with Minns and offered the federal government’s support.
“My thoughts are with everyone injured or involved in the horrible incident this morning in Newcastle,” Albanese said in a statement. “I want to acknowledge and thank emergency services and police for responding so quickly, and their ongoing work in treating the injured.
“Rugby league brings people together, and this should have been a weekend of excitement and pride for Newcastle fans.”
Multiple fundraisers were launched on Saturday afternoon by friends and loved ones of injured fans, including for a five-year-old child who was placed in an induced coma after suffering serious injuries.
The child has already required multiple operations, according to organiser Ashleigh Gibbs.
“Their mum was also seriously injured and will require multiple operations and a long period of recovery,” the fundraising page says.
“Both mum and child now have a long road ahead of them, with ongoing surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation.”
– Australian Associated Press contributed to this report
