Arabic version: رفض الإفراج بكفالة عن سائق متهم بعد حادث دهس حشد في نيوكاسل

According to The Guardian, 18-year-old P-plater Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe has been refused bail after a car allegedly driven by him careered into Newcastle Knights supporters near a major roundabout on Saturday morning. Ten people were injured as fans lined the streets to farewell the team as players travelled to Sydney for the grand final.

Samarasinghe was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and then charged with nine offences, including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving and causing bodily harm by misconduct. He made no application for release during a brief court appearance on Sunday. The court was told the most serious dangerous-driving charge carries a maximum prison term of seven years, and a judge endorsed a warrant for a health assessment. He is due to appear in Newcastle local court on 15 October.

Six people remain at John Hunter hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District chief executive Tracey McCosker said. Two are in a serious condition and four are stable. A five-year-old girl, who suffered critical injuries and was placed in an induced coma, has stabilised.

Chris Clancy, one of those hurt, said the vehicle stopped at the roundabout before it accelerated on wet ground and lost control. He said he thought he was going to die as the car approached. Clancy suffered small fractures to his ribs, spine and foot, as well as a broken collarbone. Investigators did not believe the incident was deliberate, but declined to comment on reports that the vehicle had been driven erratically beforehand.

Fundraisers have been created for victims, including the five-year-old girl and Wallsend grandfather Dave Martin. Martin was injured while trying to protect his two young granddaughters, sustaining multiple fractures to both legs and undergoing lengthy surgery. Newcastle Knights chief executive Peter Parr said the community needed compassion, care and support for those affected.