An 18-year-old man of Sri Lankan origin has been arrested and charged after a car ploughed into a crowd of rugby league fans in Newcastle, Australia, injuring 10 people, including three children, according to a report by News.com.au.
The suspect, identified as Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, faces multiple charges, including three counts each of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and causing bodily harm by misconduct.
News.com.au reported that court records revealed Samarasinghe’s driving licence had been suspended in February. He had appealed against the suspension in April but was unsuccessful.
The teenager appeared in bail court on Sunday and did not apply for bail, which was formally refused. His lawyer requested that he be assessed by prison health authorities.
The most serious dangerous driving charge carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years, according to the report. Samarasinghe is due to appear in court again on October 15.
The incident occurred at around 9.30 a.m. on Saturday on Newcastle Link Road at Transfield Avenue, where thousands of Newcastle Knights supporters had gathered to send off the city’s NRL team.
Police said the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck several supporters. Ten people, ranging in age from two to 67, were injured and taken to John Hunter Hospital after receiving treatment at the scene.
Among those seriously injured was a five-year-old girl who suffered a cardiac arrest. She was reportedly placed in an induced coma after sustaining head injuries and broken bones and was in a serious but stable condition on Sunday morning.
A 67-year-old man who had initially been listed in critical condition was reportedly no longer critical.
The other injured people included a two-year-old girl, another five-year-old girl, two women aged 31 and 63, and four men aged 24, 25, 48 and 57. Three had subsequently been discharged, while the others were reported to be in stable condition.
The driver was arrested at the scene and taken for mandatory testing.
NSW Police said the incident was not believed to have been deliberate. Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said the vehicle had been driven “erratically” before the crash and that police had to remove the driver and two passengers from the scene after members of the crowd turned on them.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris said the driver appeared to have been among those taking part in the celebrations and had apparently lost control of the vehicle. (Newswire/ News.com)