A festive gathering in Newcastle, Australia, turned into a scene of chaos on Saturday when a car plowed into a crowd of rugby league supporters. Fans had assembled to cheer on the Newcastle Knights before their upcoming grand final match against the Sydney Roosters, but the celebration took a dark turn when an 18-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle. Local officials noted that the young man, who was also a supporter, had been revving his engine in excitement before the car veered off course and struck the onlookers.

The incident resulted in ten injuries, including three children, leaving emergency responders to deal with a harrowing scene. Among the most severely injured are a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man, both of whom remain in critical condition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his sorrow over the accident, lamenting that a moment meant to be defined by community pride and sporting anticipation was marred by such a senseless event. Authorities have since taken the driver into custody as investigations into the crash continue.