NEWCASTLE, Australia â Ten people were injured, including a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man who were reported in critical condition, after a car struck Newcastle Knights supporters gathered in Wallsend on Saturday morning for the clubâs Grand Final farewell.
MAJOR BREAKING NEWS
— Ryan Dally (@Ryandally08) October 3, 2026
An absolute tragedy has unfolded on Newcastle Link Road, where a vehicle has plowed into a massive crowd of Newcastle Knights fans cheering on their team coach ahead of tomorrowâs blockbuster NRL Grand Final.
Multiple fans have reportedly been hit and⌠pic.twitter.com/C1v7ESk5sm
The crash happened at about 9:30am on October 3 on Newcastle Link Road in Newcastleâs west, where families and supporters had gathered to see the Knights team bus before its trip to Sydney. An 18-year-old P-plate driver was arrested at the scene and later taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
Ten injured after car hits Newcastle Knights crowd
Emergency services mounted a major response after the vehicle struck people gathered along the farewell route.
Among those injured were young children, including a two-year-old girl and a five-year-old girl. The latest information identified a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man as being in critical condition.
NSW Ambulance initially reported one patient in critical condition and another as critical but stable, while several others were stable. Patients requiring hospital treatment were taken to John Hunter Hospital.
Ambulances and emergency helicopters were deployed as paramedics treated people at and around the scene. Supporters gathered on a nearby oval watched as emergency crews moved patients for further care.
Fans were waiting for Knights Grand Final send-off
The crash occurred during what was supposed to be a morning of celebration for Newcastle rugby league supporters.
Fans had arrived early along the route expecting the Knights team bus to pass at around 10am as the players headed toward Sydney ahead of the NRL Grand Final.
After the collision, the Knights said the bus had been diverted from its planned route because of the major incident. The club apologised to supporters who missed seeing the team but said public safety was the priority.
The Knights also said their thoughts were with those affected, including the injured and their families.
Witness describes moment BMW struck supporters
Knights fan Dylan Prior told ABC News he was at Wallsend with his two young daughters and his mother after arriving at about 8:30am.
He described an upbeat atmosphere before the crash, with supporters cheering as they waited for the team.
Prior said he saw a BMW come around a corner before striking a group of people. He described bystanders rushing to help as people called out for emergency assistance.
He also said the vehicle appeared to be revving beforehand and noted wet conditions in the area.
Those details remain eyewitness observations. Police have not established whether rain, speed, driver behaviour, road conditions or another factor caused the collision.
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18-year-old driver arrested as investigation begins
NSW Police said the 18-year-old driver was arrested shortly after the crash and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
Police have not announced a definitive cause or said that the crowd was deliberately targeted. An official NSW Police update said inquiries into the circumstances were continuing.
Newcastle Link Road was closed in both directions while emergency personnel worked and investigators examined the scene. Police asked members of the public to disperse safely and keep surrounding roads clear.
Authorities are expected to examine witness accounts and evidence from the scene as they reconstruct what happened immediately before the crash.
Celebration turns into major emergency
The incident had an immediate emotional impact because many of those at Wallsend were families who had gathered specifically to celebrate Newcastleâs Grand Final appearance.
Within minutes, the focus shifted from the Knights procession to helping injured supporters and allowing ambulances, helicopters and police to reach the area.
The response comes amid several serious emergencies in New South Wales. Recent incidents have included the Valley Heights emergency in the Blue Mountains and the death of a fisherman swept from rocks in New South Wales.
Leaders react as Newcastle waits for updates
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the incident as heartbreaking and thanked police and ambulance crews responding to the scene.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had contacted Minns to offer assistance and acknowledged what should have been a weekend of excitement and pride for Newcastle supporters.
ARLC executive chairman Peter Vâlandys said the league was working with police to understand the circumstances and expressed support for those injured and the wider Knights community.
Attention now remains on the condition of the critically injured patients and the police investigation. Further updates are expected on how the vehicle came to strike the crowd and whether charges will follow.
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