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A five-year-old girl is in an induced coma and ten people were injured after an 18-year-old P-plater drove into a crowd cheering on the Newcastle Knights.
A five-year-old girl is in an induced coma after an 18-year-old P-plater drove a gold BMW into a crowd of Newcastle Knights fans in Newcastle, north of Sydney, on Saturday morning. The crash occurred at about 9.30am at the Newcastle Link Road roundabout on Transfield Avenue as fans gathered to farewell the Knights team bus ahead of the NRL Grand Final. Ten people were treated for injuries, including the five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man, both in critical condition.
Driver Arrested After Erratic Driving
The driver was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing. Police confirmed the incident is not believed to be terror-related. Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said two passengers in the car had to be removed due to the crowd's anger. He stated that the male driver was taken to a police station and likely to be charged later on Saturday.
The driver, a Knights supporter, had attended the celebration where tens of thousands had gathered. Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris said the teenager appeared to have been revving the car in excitement before losing control. The crash impacted the planned route of the Knights Grand Final procession, which was diverted.
Victims and Fundraising Efforts
Ashleigh Gibbs, a relative of the five-year-old girl, launched a GoFundMe to support the child and her mother, who was also seriously injured. Ms Gibbs wrote that the child has already required multiple operations and that both mother and child face a long road of surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and recovery. The mother will be unable to work for some time, placing financial pressure on the family.
Funds raised will go towards medical bills, everyday costs, travel, and other unexpected expenses. Ms Gibbs expressed hope that the family can focus on healing without financial worry. The other eight injured remain in stable condition, including another five-year-old girl, a two-year-old girl, and adults aged between 25 and 63. All were taken to John Hunter Hospital, with three since discharged.
Community Response and Ongoing Investigation
Knights fan Chris Clancy shared on Instagram that he suffered a broken collarbone and may have a sprained or broken right foot. He noted that Tom had a graze and was discharged, while Matt was under observation. Newcastle captain Kalyn Ponga and others wished him well. Assistant Commissioner Waddell said there was a fair bit of angst from bystanders, but some Good Samaritans provided first aid and CPR.
An investigation is underway. Police have not released the driver's name. The Newcastle Knights are set to play in the NRL Grand Final on Sunday. The community continues to rally around the victims as authorities piece together the events leading to the crash.
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