An 18-year-old P-plater accused of ploughing a BMW into a crowd of Newcastle Knights fans has been identified after being hit with nine charges over the horror crash.
The teenager has been identified in court listings as Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, according to The Newcastle Herald, after he was charged on Saturday night.
It comes as Newcastle Mayor Gavin Morris revealed there was some “good news” on Sunday morning, with the five-year-old girl critically injured in the crash now understood to be stable.
Ten people aged between two and 67 were injured when a convertible BMW allegedly crashed into supporters lining Newcastle Link Road at Wallsend about 9.30am on Saturday.
Hundreds of fans had gathered along the road to farewell the Knights as the team travelled to Sydney ahead of Sunday’s NRL grand final.
Police allege the 18-year-old was driving erratically before losing control and crashing into the crowd.
Nine charges laid
The teenager has been charged with three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, three counts of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and three counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct.
He was refused police bail and is due to face court on Sunday, while his licence has also been suspended.
Two male passengers inside the vehicle were not injured.
Of the 10 people taken to hospital, a five-year-old girl remains in a critical but stable condition.
A 67-year-old man, who was initially critical, is now understood to be in a serious but stable condition.
Another five-year-old girl, a two-year-old girl, a 31-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man remain in hospital in stable conditions.
Three men aged 24, 25 and 27 and a 63-year-old woman have since been discharged.
‘Complete highs to complete lows’
Speaking on Sunrise on Sunday morning, Mr Morris said Newcastle was still struggling to comprehend how quickly its grand final celebrations had turned to horror.
“We’ve experienced the full gamut of emotions, haven’t we? The absolute elation of what happened last Sunday and the entire community just riding an incredible wave, an amazing wave that I haven’t witnessed since post the game back in 1997,” he said.
“The lead up has been absolutely phenomenal, and all of that was ripped out from under us yesterday.”
Mr Morris said the crash had come as a “complete shock” to the city.
“So we’ve gone from the complete highs to the complete lows and trying to digest what occurred throughout yesterday.”
But with the Knights preparing to play in the grand final on Sunday, the mayor urged locals not to feel guilty about supporting their team while also thinking of those injured.
“To the people of Newcastle, to the Knights fans, today it is okay to care about both,” he said.
“You can care about the victims and what occurred yesterday, and it’s okay to care about the team and what is going to happen throughout today.”
Victims speak out
Knights fan Chris Clancy, 48, was among those injured, suffering a broken left collarbone, fractured right foot, broken ribs and several small spinal fractures.
He revealed from hospital that his nephews Tom and Matt had also been caught up in the crash.
“Just letting you know myself, Tom and Matt were injured in the accident with the Newcastle supporters this morning,” he wrote on social media.
“Tom has a graze on his left elbow but has been discharged all ready to go to the grand final tomorrow.
“Matt is still under observation but will more than likely be discharged soon with a graze and bit of bruising on his back.”
Despite his injuries, Clancy signed off with: “UP THE KNIGHTS.”
Another fan, Adam Geosits, said his four-year-old son Hudson had been standing where the vehicle mounted the kerb just moments earlier.
“This little one here - he doesn’t know how close he was,” he said.
“I’ve had to pick up Hudson and move Hudson out of the way.
“Luckily my 14-year-old Matthew ... jumped back as well.
“But the car then hit all the other people who were standing next to us.”
Newcastle rallies behind victims
Knights stars including Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai have sent messages of support to those injured.
“Our hearts are with everyone affected in Wallsend this morning,” Ponga wrote.
“We’re thinking of you, your families and everyone in our Newcastle community.”
Mr Morris said the Knights represented the grit and fighting spirit of Newcastle and urged the city to again come together on Sunday.
“This team, for this community, it’s extraordinary. This team represents this city’s grit. It represents the fight in us,” he said.
“Most importantly, what I want to say is to do what we do best and gather as a community, as a group, come together, be strong.”
“We will also gather and look after everyone who witnessed the event yesterday and the victims, and will stand by their friends and their family and will do this together.”
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