Sydney, October 3 (TNA) Nine people were injured after an out-of-control car crashed into a crowd of rugby fans in Newcastle, north of Sydney, on Saturday morning, Australian authorities said. The crowd had gathered to cheer the Newcastle Knights rugby league team before its National Rugby League grand final in Sydney.
The incident took place at around 9:30 a.m. local time, when the vehicle struck people standing on a road near the team’s route. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and several injured people were treated before being taken to hospitals.
According to local media reports, two people were critically injured, two suffered serious injuries, and five others sustained minor injuries. The critically injured included an infant girl who reportedly went into cardiac arrest and a man who suffered multiple fractures to his legs.
The driver was arrested at the scene, police said. Initial indications suggested that the incident was not terrorism-related, although authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the vehicle entering the crowd.
The Newcastle Knights’ supporters had gathered in large numbers to bid farewell to the team as it travelled to Sydney for Sunday’s rugby league final. Thousands of fans had lined the city’s streets during the week to support the team ahead of the crucial match.
A major emergency response was launched following the crash, with police, ambulance crews and other emergency personnel attending the scene. Authorities are continuing to assess the condition of those injured and investigate whether the driver lost control of the vehicle.