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Seven people remain hospitalized, including a five-year-old girl in critical condition, after a car driven by an 18-year-old P-plater crashed into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters in Newcastle, prompting a strong community response ahead of the NRL grand final.
Seven people are still being cared for at John Hunter Hospital after a car crash ed into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters on Saturday. Newcastle Knights supporters are rallying around community members injured when a car crash ed into a crowd on Saturday.
Passionate footy fans recovering in hospital following a tragic crash involving a P-plater are set to cheer on their side in the NRL grand final. At least seven people remain at John Hunter Hospital, including a five-year-old girl, who remains in a critical but stable condition in an induced coma, after a car ploughed into a crowd of footy fans waving off the Newcastle Knights team bus about 9.30am on Saturday.
Fans largely made up of families and children were lined up on Newcastle Link Road at the Transfield Drive roundabout in NSW's Hunter region when the tragedy unfolded. Newcastle Knights chief executive Peter Parr expressed deep concern for those impacted ahead of Sunday's match against the Roosters.
"We want to thank our incredible fans for the passion and support they showed our team this morning. The scenes across Newcastle demonstrated once again what this football club means to our community," he said. Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"Newcastle is a strong community. We have seen that strength throughout this week, and today we need to draw on it again with compassion, care and support for those who need it most.
" Police say a car hit multiple people in the crowd on Saturday, with an 18-year-old P-plate driver arrested. He was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and subsequently charged with nine offences, including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving and causing bodily harm by misconduct. Assistant Commissioner Dave Waddell said two other people in the car were escorted from the crash scene after the crowd turned on them.
Police did not believe the incident was deliberate but declined to comment on reports that the vehicle was being driven erratically before the accident.
"I'll let the investigators from the crash investigation unit deal with that," Waddell told reporters. NSW Police on Saturday confirmed 10 people were injured and treated at the scene before being transported to hospital. A five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man were initially in a critical condition, while eight other people, including a second five-year-old girl and a two-year-old girl, were in stable condition.
The young girl remains in a critical but stable condition, while the man is now in a serious but stable condition. Stories have begun to emerge from fans caught up in the incident, including Chris Clancy, who suffered a broken bone. Despite his injuries, he posted on Instagram to show support for his team, writing "Up the Knights".
Multiple fundraisers were launched on Saturday afternoon by friends and loved ones of injured fans, including for a five-year-old child who was placed in an induced coma after suffering serious injuries.
"Their mum was also seriously injured and will require multiple operations and a long period of recovery," the fundraising page says. Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.
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