An 18-year-old man of Sri Lankan origin has been arrested and charged after a vehicle plowed into a crowd of rugby league supporters in Newcastle, Australia, leaving ten people injured, including three children. The driver, 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.
The incident took place around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday on Newcastle Link Road at Transfield Avenue, where thousands of Newcastle Knights supporters had assembled to see off the city’s NRL team. Authorities reported that the vehicle had been driven erratically before the driver lost control and struck several fans along the roadside. Officers arrested Samarasinghe at the scene and subjected him to mandatory testing, while police also had to safely remove him and two passengers after members of the crowd turned on them.
Emergency responders treated ten victims at the scene, ranging in age from two to 67, before transporting them to John Hunter Hospital. Among the most critically injured was a five-year-old girl who suffered cardiac arrest, head injuries, and broken bones; she was placed in an induced coma and remained in a serious but stable condition. A 67-year-old man who was initially listed in critical condition has since improved, while the other casualties—including 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—were reported to be in stable condition or discharged.
Key Developments
- Multiple Serious Charges: Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe faces nine total counts related to dangerous driving, negligent driving, and misconduct occasioning bodily harm, with the most severe charge carrying a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
- Prior License Suspension: Court records show Samarasinghe’s driver’s license was suspended in February, an administrative decision he unsuccessfully appealed in April.
- Investigation Details: NSW Police stated the collision is not believed to have been deliberate, with Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris noting the driver appeared to have been among those participating in the celebrations before losing control.
- Bail Refusal: Appearing in bail court on Sunday, Samarasinghe did not apply for bail, and it was formally refused following a request by his legal representative for a prison health authority assessment.
Samarasinghe remains in custody and is scheduled to make his next court appearance on October 15 as NSW Police continue their investigation under Assistant Commissioner David Waddell.