An 18-year-old man has been charged with multiple dangerous driving offenses after allegedly driving a car into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters in Wallsend, Newcastle. The incident occurred on the morning of October 3, injuring ten people who had gathered to send off the rugby league team ahead of their grand final match.
NSW Police arrested Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe at the scene near a roundabout on Newcastle Link Road at approximately 9:30 a.m. According to court documents reviewed by ABC News, authorities charged the teenager with three counts each of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and causing bodily harm by misconduct.
The collision resulted in ten injuries, sending victims to John Hunter Hospital. Among those hospitalized was a 5-year-old girl who sustained serious head injuries and broken bones, requiring an induced coma and multiple surgeries. A 67-year-old man was also rushed to the hospital in critical condition before later stabilizing. Eight others, including children aged two and five, sustained non-life-threatening injuries such as scratches, bruises, and broken bones.
Thousands of supporters had lined the streets to cheer on the Newcastle Knights team bus as it traveled toward Sydney for the NRL grand final against the Sydney Roosters. Following the crash, the team bus was diverted to an alternative route, and the road was closed in both directions between Lake Road and Minmi Road before reopening later that afternoon.
Driver Allegedly Revved Engine Before Losing Control
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Waddell stated that the vehicle was being driven erratically before ploughing into the crowd. Investigators confirmed that the incident was not a targeted or terror-related act. Witnesses at the scene reported that the driver had been revving his engine in celebration before losing control of the gold BMW convertible.
Bystanders immediately rushed to provide first aid and perform CPR on the injured. Some community members also intervened to stop the driver from leaving the scene and removed the two passengers inside the vehicle to protect them from the growing anger of the crowd.
State officials expressed deep grief over the tragedy. New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley called the crash a preventable tragedy resulting from a split-second decision. Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison and Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris also shared their condolences, praising the swift response of emergency personnel and local Good Samaritans.
Community and Club Support
Newcastle Knights CEO Peter Parr thanked first responders and medical staff at John Hunter Hospital for their exceptional professionalism. Club captain Kalyn Ponga and other team members reached out via social media to express their solidarity with the victims and their families, including injured fan Chris Clancy, who shared updates on his recovery from the hospital.
A GoFundMe campaign has since been established to support the critically injured 5-year-old girl and her mother, who also sustained a broken leg during the incident, helping them navigate ongoing medical bills and rehabilitation costs.
