Newcastle, Australia: A festive gathering of rugby league supporters in Newcastle turned into a major emergency on Saturday after a car struck a crowd gathered to farewell the Newcastle Knights before their National Rugby League grand final.

The incident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. near the Transfield Drive roundabout on Newcastle Link Road in Wallsend, where a large number of supporters had gathered along the planned route of the team’s farewell procession.

New South Wales Police said 10 people were injured in the crash. Two of those injured—a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man—were reported to be in critical condition. The other eight injured people, including young children, were reported to be in stable condition in hospital.

Emergency services responded rapidly, with police, ambulance crews and several helicopters involved in the response. Some injured people received treatment at the scene before being taken to John Hunter Hospital.

Police arrested the 18-year-old driver at the scene. Authorities said the driver was being investigated and was expected to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing. Initial police assessments indicated that the incident was not believed to be terrorism-related.

The crowd had gathered to support the Newcastle Knights ahead of their grand final against the Sydney Roosters. The team’s bus was due to travel through the area as supporters lined the streets to give the players a send-off before the match in Sydney.

Following the crash, the planned procession route was changed and the team bus was diverted. Police also closed Newcastle Link Road in both directions while emergency services worked at the scene and investigators began examining the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Newcastle officials said the incident had dramatically changed what had been expected to be a celebratory morning for thousands of rugby supporters. The city’s mayor said early information indicated that the driver appeared to have lost control of the vehicle.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the precise sequence of events leading to the collision. Police have also appealed for information from members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or captured relevant footage.

The crash has brought renewed attention to the risks associated with large crowds gathering close to roads during major sporting events. While the investigation will determine the circumstances and any potential charges, emergency responders have already credited members of the public and first responders with helping people at the scene.

The Newcastle incident has transformed a major pre-final celebration into a serious community emergency, with 10 people hospitalised and two critically injured. As investigators work to establish exactly how the vehicle entered the crowd, the focus now remains on the recovery of those injured and on determining the circumstances that led to the crash.