Newcastle driver faces 17 charges after hitting supporters

An 18-year-old driver, Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, faces a total of 17 charges following an incident on October 3 where a vehicle struck a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters. The group had gathered along Newcastle Link Road to farewell the team ahead of their NRL grand final appearance.

Ten people were injured in the crash, including a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man. Reports indicate the child underwent multiple operations and was placed in an induced coma, while others were treated at John Hunter Hospital.

Following further investigations, police laid eight additional charges against Samarasinghe, including dangerous driving and negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, as well as six counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct. Authorities are investigating reports that the driver was operating the vehicle erratically before losing control near the Transfield Drive roundabout. Samarasinghe has been granted bail to a residence in Sydney's eastern suburbs.