A car hit a crowd in Wallsend on Saturday morning as supporters waited to farewell the Newcastle Knights before the NRL grand final in Sydney. Ten people were injured. The team bus was due to pass Newcastle Link Road near the Transfield Drive roundabout at about 9:30 a.m., but the club changed its route after the crash and diverted the bus from the procession.
Two people—a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man—were initially reported in critical condition. The Guardian later reported that the girl remained in a critical but stable condition in an induced coma, while the man’s condition had improved to serious but stable. Officials initially described the other eight as stable. Paramedics treated all 10 at the scene, then took them to John Hunter Hospital.
The Crowd and the Injured
ABC identified the other injured people as a second five-year-old girl, a two-year-old girl, a 31-year-old woman, a 48-year-old man, a 24-year-old man, a 63-year-old woman, a 25-year-old man and a 57-year-old man. By Saturday night, The Guardian reported, five other patients remained stable and three had been discharged.
Witness Dylan Prior told ABC he arrived at 8:30 a.m. with his two young daughters and his mother, expecting the bus about 10 a.m. “I saw some young kids go flying, and people running to help the victims,” he said. “Everyone was yelling and hysterical, yelling at the driver. They were screaming for help.”
Prior said the crowd had been upbeat before the crash. He saw one police officer at the scene, he said, and the officer joined efforts to help victims. “I wish there had been more police around. This could have been avoided if more police were in sight,” he said. Afterward, the mood was “very deflated.”
ABC reported that thousands of supporters had gathered in Wallsend. The Guardian put the crowd at more than 1,000 people. Streets and touch football fields were packed, witness Carolyn Clark told ABC, with fans waiting near a service station to see the bus at traffic lights. Decorated cars and trucks, flags and honking accompanied the team’s send-off, she said. Then, at about 9:30 a.m., ambulances, police cars and fire crews arrived. People heard the bus would be diverted.
Police, Emergency Response and Charges
Emergency services responded to reports of a vehicle hitting multiple people at the roundabout about 9:30 a.m. ABC first reported that three helicopters and 15 ambulances attended; a later update citing NSW Ambulance said four helicopters and 15 ambulances were deployed. Newcastle Link Road closed in both directions. Police asked the public to leave the area and keep roadways clear.
Police arrested the driver, an 18-year-old man on P-plates, at the scene. ABC reported that officers took him to hospital for mandatory testing. The Guardian said he faced nine offences, including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving and causing bodily harm by misconduct. He was refused bail ahead of a court appearance on Sunday.
Assistant Commissioner Dave Waddell said two other people allegedly in the car were escorted from the scene after the crowd turned on them. Police said initial inquiries indicated the crash wasn’t believed to be terror-related. The Guardian reported police didn’t believe it was deliberate, but declined to comment on reports that the car had been driven erratically. “I’ll let the investigators from the crash investigation unit deal with that,” Waddell told reporters.
ABC’s live coverage included witness accounts that the driver had been revving the engine and lost control. The Guardian reported that footage posted on social media appeared to show a car being driven quickly around a roundabout shortly before the crash. Waddell praised people in the crowd who provided first aid.
Official Statements and Community Support
Police Minister Yasmin Catley called the incident “an absolute tragedy — a tragedy that needn’t have happened.” Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the incident could have been worse, given the number of people gathered, The Guardian reported.
Multiple fundraisers launched Saturday afternoon for injured fans, including the five-year-old child placed in an induced coma after serious injuries. Fundraising organiser Ashleigh Gibbs said the child had already undergone multiple operations. A fundraising page said the child’s mother was also seriously injured and would need multiple operations and a long recovery: “Both mum and child now have a long road ahead of them, with ongoing surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation.”
The Knights said it changed its route and apologized to supporters who missed the farewell, adding that “public safety is our priority.” Club director of football Chris James said the club’s thoughts were with those affected, their families and people at the scene. The club said it wouldn’t make further comment while the matter was for NSW Police.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris said the city would “come together for those injured and the families,” and also for the Knights. NSW Premier Chris Minns called the crash a tragedy for the Newcastle community and thanked emergency services. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had spoken with Minns and offered federal government support. The Knights travelled to Sydney for Sunday’s grand final against the Roosters.