Crime03 October, 20262 min read
18-Year-Old Driver Arrested After Car Hits Newcastle Knights Supporters, Injuring 10
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Ten injured, including a five-year-old girl, after car hits Newcastle Knights supporters. 18-year-old driver arrested at scene by NSW Police.
Car hits Knights crowd
An 18-year-old driver was arrested at the scene after a car drove into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters in Newcastle on Saturday morning, injuring 10 people. NSW Police said two of the injured, a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man, were in critical condition, while the other eight were in stable condition. New South Wales Assistant Police Commissioner David Waddell said the young driver appeared to be driving “erratically” before losing control of the vehicle. NSW Police said the incident was not believed to be related to “terror related,” and police commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Bail refused, charges
Police charged 18-year-old Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe with three instances of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, three instances of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and three instances of cause bodily harm by misconduct. Samarasinghe appeared in bail court on Sunday, and the court refused bail after he did not apply for bail. NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Waddell told the media on Saturday afternoon that the driver was driving “erratically” with two passengers in the vehicle when he crashed into the crowd. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “My thoughts are with everyone injured or involved in the horrible incident this morning in Newcastle,” as the investigation continued.
Community impact and response
Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris said the driver was there to take part in the celebrations, and he said, “It appears that he was revving the car in some form.” The Newcastle Knights said, “Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by the incident, including those at the scene and their families,” and the club said the team bus was diverted from the planned route. NSW Police said Newcastle Link Road was closed in both directions while investigations continued, and police asked the public to “safely disperse from the area and keep roadways clear to assist emergency services and traffic management efforts.” The crash investigation continued as supporters described the moment a BMW “was revving a bit” before it ran into a group of people, and Dylan Prior said, “They were screaming for help.”