A driver whose car careered into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters – leaving children as young as five injured – will be kept in custody as the community rallies to support those hospitalised after the crash.
Ten people were left injured after a car allegedly driven by ۱۸-year-old P-plater Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe careered into the crowd near a major roundabout on Saturday morning.
Six people remain at the John Hunter hospital with injuries caused by the collision, according to the Hunter New England Local Health District chief executive, Tracey McCosker. Two are in a serious condition, while four are stable.
They include a five-year-old girl who had been placed into an induced coma with critical injuries, although her condition has stabilised.
Samarasinghe 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.
He did not make any application for release during a brief court appearance on Sunday, and he was formally refused bail. The judge also endorsed a warrant for a health assessment.
The bail court was told the most serious offence of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm carried a maximum jail term of seven years.
He will next appear at the Newcastle local court on ۱۵ October.
Chris Clancy was among those injured in the crash, after joining thousands of Newcastle Knights fans to lined the streets to farewell their team as the players travelled to Sydney for the grand final.
“We’re there at the roundabout having fun – cars going past, beeping their horns, people waving,” Clancy said.
“The next thing, this car stops [at] the roundabout and then he just floored it on the wet ground, lost it.
“It happened in seconds, but when you stand there, seeing the car coming at you, I honestly thought I was going to die. It just felt like slow motion.”
Clancy suffered small fractures in his ribs and spine, a broken collarbone, and small fractures in his foot.
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Investigators did not believe the incident was deliberate but declined to comment on reports the vehicle was being driven erratically before the crash.
Multiple fundraisers have been established for the victims of the incident, including one for the five-year-old girl and another for Wallsend grandfather Dave Martin.
Martin was injured after being struck by the car while trying to protect his two young granddaughters, sustaining multiple fractures in both legs and undergoing a lengthy surgery.
He was known in Wallsend for his love of the Knights, often decorating his barber shop on Nelson Street with team paraphernalia.
The Knights’ chief executive, Peter Parr, expressed deep concern for those affected by the crash.
“Newcastle is a strong community,” he said.
“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.”
