A five-year-old girl was fighting for her life after a car allegedly driven by an 18-year-old P-plater crashed into Newcastle Knights supporters gathered to farewell the team before the NRL grand final.
Nine other people were injured when the vehicle struck crowds lining a street in Wallsend, Newcastle, on Saturday. The girl was in a critical condition at John Hunter Hospital, while one patient was serious but stable and five others were stable. Three people had been discharged.
Police arrested the teenage driver at the scene and took him for mandatory drug and alcohol testing. The incident was not believed to be targeted or terror-related, although police said the driver was known to them.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said investigators were examining reports that the P-plater had been driving erratically before losing control.
Video posted on social media appeared to show a BMW travelling around a roundabout shortly before it careered into supporters. Witness Chris Clancy said the vehicle seemed to accelerate before losing control on the wet road.
“No-one had time to move,” Mr Clancy said. “I thought I was going to die, it happened so fast.”
Fans rushed to help the injured as police, paramedics and other emergency crews arrived. Mr Clancy said a police vehicle was close by and responded quickly, but the car had reached the group too fast for people to get out of its path.
Police said angry onlookers confronted the occupants of the car after the collision. “We had to get the three of them out of there because the crowd did turn on them,” Assistant Commissioner Waddell said.
The crash happened before the Knights’ team bus had left, prompting officials to reroute it. Players were told what had happened and travelled on in a sombre mood.
“Our fans mean everything to us. For that to happen; horrible,” one person aboard the bus said.
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga said on social media: “We’re thinking of you, your families and everyone in our Newcastle community.”
The team had been due to face Sunday night’s grand final after a week of celebrations in Newcastle, where supporters had gathered in large numbers to back a side that has not won a premiership for 25 years.
Fans had arrived early to wave off the players. Jed Partridge, 29, said he reached the roadside at 8.20am and saw the celebrations abruptly replaced by emergency vehicles.
“We were on the side of the road, just waiting. Everyone was happy and then there was a real flurry of cop cars, ambos and rescue cars shooting past,” he said.
“It was eerie … such a positive thing could quickly turn to this. It’s hard to wrap your head around.”
Newcastle crash casts shadow over grand final
The incident has cast a shadow over the match, with rugby league figures saying the welfare of those injured was the immediate priority.
Australian Rugby League Commission executive chairman Peter V’landys said he was deeply saddened by the crash. Asked whether it would affect plans for the game, he said: “We’re just concerned about the victims at the moment.”
Brad Fittler, a former Roosters captain and member of the league’s hall of fame, said the tragedy had put the occasion into perspective.
“It’s heartbreaking for the whole rugby league community, not just in Newcastle,” he said. “We’ve never seen anything like this ahead of a grand final and it puts everything in perspective.”
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said it was heartbreaking that supporters sending off their team had been caught up in such a serious incident.
“My thoughts are with the families and friends of loved ones who have been involved or injured in the crash. I also want to thank emergency services including police and ambulance who are responding to this tragedy,” he said.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris described the days leading up to the final as one of the “most incredibly joyous weeks in our city” before the crash changed the mood.
Mr Morris said the driver was believed to be a Knights fan and that passing vehicles had been revving their engines to excite thousands of supporters along the route.
“That just should not have been occurring, but it has,” he said.
Asked whether bollards or fencing should have protected fans, Mr Morris said securing the 20-kilometre stretch between the Knights’ home ground and the crash site would have been “almost an impossible task”.
The 18-year-old is expected to be charged, police said, although no charges had been laid at the time of publication.
Mr Clancy urged the Knights to continue with their preparations and represent the city in Sunday night’s match.
“It will be tough for them, but do what they’ve always done and do it for the town,” he said. “I believe they can win. Regardless of whether they win or lose, they’ve done the town proud.”
