Newcastle Knights supporters have been injured by a car that crashed into a crowd gathered at a send-off for the grand final-bound team.
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that → injure → team
Three emergency services helicopters and 15 ambulances rushed to the scene, and several people were transported to John Hunter Hospital in various conditions.
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people → rush → conditions
The driver of the car, an 18-year-old man, has been arrested by police.
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driver → arrest → police
What happened?
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What → happen → ?
The Newcastle Knights team bus was due to pass through the area as streets were lined with Knights fans farewelling their team to Sydney for Sunday's NRL grand final.
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fans → pass → final
A short time later, NSW Police said emergency services had responded to reports multiple people had been struck by a vehicle at the Transfield Drive roundabout at Wallsend about 9:30am.
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people → say → Wallsend
"The driver of the vehicle was arrested at the scene," police said in a statement.
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police → arrest → statement
Shortly after the incident, the Knights bus diverted to a different route away from the procession of fans.
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bus → divert → fans
Several videos seen by the ABC show emergency service helicopters landing on a nearby oval.
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helicopters → see → oval
Another shows the moment a man from the crashed car was arrested, as an angry crowd shouted in his direction.
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crowd → show → direction
Who was injured?
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Who → injure → ?
Police said 10 people were taken to hospital, two of whom — a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man — were in a critical condition.
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two → say → condition
The other eight were treated for injuries and include another five-year-old girl, a two-year-old girl and a 63-year-old woman.
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eight → treat → girl
They remain in a stable condition.
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They → remain → condition
"So many people have been affected by one person's split-second decision," Police Minister Yasmin Catley said at the scene of the crash.
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Catley → affect → crash
"What happened is an absolute tragedy, a tragedy that needn't have happened.
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that → happen → ?
"
What we know about the driver
Police have said the driver was an 18-year-old P-plater.
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driver → know → driver
Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said the man would likely be charged this afternoon, after undergoing drug and alcohol testing.
"Unfortunately a young 18-year-old P-plater driving erratically has lost control of the vehicle and gone into the crowd," he said.
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he → say → crowd
Police said the incident was not targeted and that thousands of people were lining the streets when the car struck members of the crowd.
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car → say → crowd
Assistant Commissioner Waddell said the crowd sought to stop the driver, as well as two passengers who were also in the vehicle, in the ensuing fracas at the scene.
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who → say → scene
He praised the efforts of those in the crowd who helped to provide first aid to those injured.
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who → praise → those
How have people responded?
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people → respond → ?
Knights director of football Chris James made a brief statement when the team arrived in Sydney.
"
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team → make → Sydney
The thoughts of everyone at our club are with those impacted by this event [including] their families and … those on scene," he said.
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he → impact → scene
The club said it would not make further comment as it was a police matter.
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it → say → comment
Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris said the city would "come together for those injured and the families".
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city → say → those
"But we will also come together for the Knights," he said.
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he → come → Knights
"It's obviously shifted the entire mood but we will get through this."
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we → shift → this
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the incident as a "tragedy" for the Newcastle community.
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Minns → describe → community
"It's heartbreaking to see fans who were sending off their grand final team involved in such a terrible incident," he said.
"
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he → see → incident
My thoughts are with the families and friends of loved ones who have been involved or injured in the crash.
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who → love → crash
"I also want to thank emergency services including police and ambulance who are responding to this tragedy."
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who → want → tragedy
The Aporia
