# Newcastle rugby league fan vehicle accident > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/newcastle-rugby-league-fan-vehicle-accident > Updated: 2026-10-05T02:00:00.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. During the NRL grand final weekend in Newcastle, Australia, a vehicle struck a crowd of rugby league fans in Wallsend. The incident resulted in injuries to ten people, including children. One five-year-old girl was placed in an induced coma due to head injuries and broken bones, while other victims suffered fractures to the ribs, spine, and feet. An 18-year-old man, Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving, and causing bodily harm by misconduct. Investigators stated they do not believe the crash was deliberate. Samarasinghe appeared in court on Sunday, where bail was refused. In response to the weekend festivities and associated incidents, police deployed specialist units, including the riot squad and highway patrol, to manage crowds across the Newcastle and Hunter region. While most fans were well-behaved, officers responded to reports of intoxication, disorderly behavior, and minor assaults at various venues. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-05: Newcastle police deploy specialist units for NRL grand final weekend Police deployed specialist units across Newcastle during the NRL grand final weekend to manage crowds and antisocial behavior following a series of incidents, including a vehicle accident in Wallsend. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/newcastle-police-deploy-specialist-units-for-nrl-grand-final-weekend ### 2026-10-05: Australia car crash injures 10 rugby fans in Newcastle An 18-year-old man faces multiple charges after his vehicle struck 10 rugby league fans in Wallsend, Australia, injuring several people, including children, during a team send-off. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australia-car-crash-injures-10-rugby-fans-in-newcastle --- Cite as: Newcastle rugby league fan vehicle accident. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/newcastle-rugby-league-fan-vehicle-accident