Ten people were injured, two of them critically, when a car hit a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters on Newcastle Link Road at Wallsend, in Newcastle’s west, at about 9.30am on Saturday 3 October, NSW Ambulance said, according to the Newcastle Herald. The fans had gathered to farewell the team bus before Sunday’s NRL grand final in Sydney.
NSW Police arrested the driver at the scene. Police said the driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing, ABC News and newy.com.au reported. All ten injured people were treated at the scene and taken to John Hunter Hospital, according to newy.com.au.
The two people in a critical condition are a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man, the ABC and newy.com.au reported. The other eight are stable, newy.com.au said.
The crowd was hit near the Transfield Drive roundabout, according to the New England Times, which reported that one patient was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital by helicopter. Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended with Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and NSW Ambulance, the paper said.
Newcastle Link Road was closed in both directions while inquiries continued, police said, according to both the ABC and the New England Times. In a statement carried by the ABC, NSW Police said: “Members of the public are asked to safely disperse from the area and keep roadways clear to assist emergency services and traffic management efforts.”
The Knights told supporters on social media that the bus had been sent another way. “Due to a major incident, the team bus has been diverted from the planned route,” the club said, according to the ABC. It added: “We apologise to anybody who was waiting and missed the boys, but public safety is our priority.” The New England Times reported that the bus has since left Newcastle. The club also said, in words reported by the Newcastle Herald: “Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by the incident, including those at the scene and their families.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “It’s heartbreaking to see fans who were sending off their grand final team involved in such a terrible incident.” Mr Minns added: “I also want to thank emergency services, including police and ambulance, who are responding to this tragedy.” The ABC reported both remarks.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said in a statement, reported by the ABC: “We’re currently working with police to understand the circumstances. Our thoughts are very much with those injured and anyone impacted by these events, not to mention the entire Knights community who have come together in jubilation to support their team.”
The send-off was meant to see the team off to Sydney for Sunday’s match, which comes a week after last weekend’s AFL grand final.
The Road and the Investigation
Police arrested the driver at the scene. As of early Saturday afternoon no charge had been reported, and no cause for the crash had been reported either. The road stayed closed in both directions while officers made their inquiries.
Police have asked people to leave the area and keep the roads clear for emergency services. Of the ten people taken to John Hunter Hospital, the two in a critical condition are a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man, according to the ABC and newy.com.au. The figures here are as at early Saturday afternoon, and the story is still developing.
Sources: ABC News, “Multiple people injured as car hits crowd at Knights grand final farewell in Newcastle”, 3 October 2026 (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-03/newcastle-knights-car-crash-wallsend-injuries/107224666); Newcastle Herald, “Multiple people injured, driver arrested, after car crashes into crowd of Knights faithful”, 3 October 2026 (https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9361925/newcastle-knights-farewell-car-crashes-into-crowd-of-supporters-multiple-injuries-reported/); newy.com.au, “Driver arrested after vehicle strikes crowd near Wallsend”, 3 October 2026 (https://newy.com.au/2026/10/03/driver-arrested-after-vehicle-strikes-crowd-near-wallsend/); New England Times, “Tragic start to grand final weekend as car hits Knights fans”, 3 October 2026 (https://www.netimes.com.au/2026/10/03/tragic-start-to-grand-final-weekend-as-car-hits-knights-fans/)
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
A NSW Ambulance vehicle parked on a quiet street, photographed in 2021. This photograph is illustrative; it was not taken at Wallsend on 3 October 2026.
