In short:
Newcastle has woken with a heavy heart on NRL grand final day, after a car hit a crowd of Knights fans yesterday morning.
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car → wake → fans
Ten people were injured when a car allegedly being driven "erratically" crashed into supporters who were lining the streets to see off the Knights players as they left for Sydney.
What's next?
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What → injure → Sydney
Hunter New England Health confirmed just one patient remained in a critical condition in hospital, and three others had been discharged.
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others → confirm → hospital
Newcastle has woken with a heavy heart on NRL grand final day, its excitement tempered by concern for those affected after a car hit a crowd of Knights fans farewelling the team yesterday morning.
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car → wake → team
Multiple people were injured when a car crashed into a crowd of supporters about 9:30am at a roundabout on Newcastle Link Road, in Newcastle's west.
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car → injure → west
The 18-year-old driver, Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, has since been charged with multiple driving offences, including dangerous driving, negligent driving occasioning bodily harm and causing bodily harm by misconduct.
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driver → charge → misconduct
New South Wales Police said in a statement Mr Samarasinghe's P1 Provisional licence has been suspended and the vehicle has been seized prior to undergoing forensic examination.
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vehicle → say → examination
Two other teens, present in the vehicle with Mr Samarasinghe, were unharmed according to police.
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teens → accord → police
The crash injured 10 people, including a five-year-old girl who remains in a critical but now stable condition, the statement continued.
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statement → injure → condition
Police said the 67-year-old man who was initially in a critical condition is currently reported to be in a serious but stable condition.
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who → say → condition
Four other people – a second 5-year-old girl, a 2-year-old girl, a 31-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man – remain hospitalised in stable conditions.
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people → remain → conditions
Three men – aged 24, 25 and 27 – along with a 63-year-old woman have since been discharged from hospital.
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men → discharge → hospital
They were among thousands who had lined the streets to see off the Knights team bus, which was due to pass through the area as it left for Sydney ahead of the grand final match.
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it → line → match
It comes after a week of celebration across the city, as Newcastle prepared for its first grand final in 25 years.
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Newcastle → come → years
The driver was later released from hospital and taken to a police station where he was charged with nine offences including:
Widespread heartbreak
Many Novocastrians say they have felt the hurt of yesterday's crash deeply.
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they → release → crash
"It's really devastating," Newcastle man Anderson Dell said.
"It just goes to show one person's silly act can completely ruin something so great."
Mr Dell echoed how the region felt, saying he hoped those injured had a quick recovery.
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those → say → recovery
"Best wishes to all of them [those injured] and their families," he said.
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he → injure → them
One of those injured, Chris Clancy, posted on social media late yesterday saying he would be spending the grand final in hospital.
"I have a broken left collarbone which requires surgery and may have a possible sprained or broken right foot," his post read.
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post → injure → foot
"I will be JJH [John Hunter Hospital] for a couple of days but will let you all know."
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you → let → days
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga commented on the post.
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Ponga → comment → post
The team and community are with yas," his comment read.
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comment → read → yas
In a statement, Newcastle Knights CEO Peter Parr expressed his "deep concern and support" for those impacted.
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Parr → express → those
"Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with everyone who has been injured, their families and loved ones, and everyone who witnessed what occurred this morning," the statement read.
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statement → injure → everyone
"What was meant to be a special morning for our community, thousands of Novocastrians coming together to farewell our team and show their support ahead of the Grand Final, has understandably turned into a distressing morning."
A GoFundMe for those affected by the tragedy has raised more than $17,000.
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GoFundMe → mean → 17,000
The Aporia
