A car on Saturday morning ploughed into a crowd in Newcastle, Australia, leaving nine people injured, two of them in critical condition. The incident occurred while the public was waiting for the team bus of the Knights ahead of the NRL final.
New South Wales Police said emergency services were called to the Newcastle Link Road, at the roundabout in Transfield Drive, Wallsend, at around 9.30 am on Saturday. The call came after reports that a vehicle had struck multiple people in a crowd. The driver was arrested at the scene, and police said several people were injured and were receiving aid at the scene of the crash.
The Mayor of Newcastle, Gavin Morris, told ABC that nine people had been injured, including children. According to him, the driver was a Knights fan who had lost control while driving the car. Morris said the young driver was now in police custody, having been excited; it was a fan and devotee of the club. He added that, apparently, the driver had lost control of the vehicle and entered the crowd sideways.
A video was published on social media, appearing to show a car moving quickly around the roundabout immediately before the crash. Other images show the vehicle veering onto the footpath shortly after. The Newcastle Link Road was closed in both directions, which diverted the Knights' procession ahead of the final. The club confirmed on Instagram that it had changed the route and apologised to fans who may have missed the team's departure, highlighting that public safety was the priority.
Police urged fans to leave the area. They acknowledged that many loyal fans may have missed the opportunity to see the team off and show their support, and asked the public to disperse safely, keeping the roads clear to allow emergency services to operate and manage traffic. They thanked the community for its patience, cooperation, and assistance.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said his thoughts were with the families of those injured. He said it was heartbreaking to see fans who had come to see their team in the final involved in such a tragic incident, and that the final had shown how united Newcastle was, expressing hope that the community would remain united in the aftermath of the incident.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had spoken with Minns and offered the support of the federal government. He stated that his thoughts were with all those affected or involved in the tragic incident in Newcastle, and that he wished to acknowledge and thank the emergency services and police for their quick response and continued work in assisting the injured. New South Wales Ambulance was also contacted for comment.
