NEWCASTLE, Australia — Several people were injured on Saturday morning when a car drove into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters who had gathered to wave off the team bus ahead of the club’s first NRL grand final appearance in 25 years. The Newcastle crowd crash happened at around 9:30am on Newcastle Link Road at the Transfield Drive roundabout in Wallsend, New South Wales, where hundreds of fans had lined the street to farewell the team.
New South Wales police arrested the driver at the scene. NSW Ambulance said several people were injured, with the situation still evolving in the first hours after the incident, as emergency crews treated casualties on the roadside.
FAKTA: What we know
- When: Saturday, October 3, 2026, at around 9:30am local time.
- Where: Newcastle Link Road at the Transfield Drive roundabout in Wallsend, NSW, Australia.
- What: A car drove into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters gathered to wave off the team bus.
- Casualties: Several people injured; the exact number had not been confirmed in initial reports.
- Driver: Arrested at the scene, according to NSW police.
- Road: Newcastle Link Road closed in both directions; the Knights’ grand final procession route was changed.
Emergency response to the Newcastle crowd crash
More than 10 ambulances and multiple helicopters were reported rushing to the scene as paramedics treated the injured on Newcastle Link Road. A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance told media that several people were injured and that the situation was still evolving.
Police closed the road in both directions to allow emergency operations to continue. Local MP Sonia Hornery said: “I’ve just become aware of an incident involving a vehicle colliding with pedestrians on Newcastle Link Road while Knights fans were there to cheer on the team coach. Emergency services are on site. Newcastle Link Road is closed in both directions. Please avoid the area. I hope everyone involved is ok.”
NSW police appealed to the public for information and urged people to keep clear of the area while the investigation continues. The cause of the Newcastle crowd crash had not been established in the initial reports.
Club changes procession route
The Newcastle Knights changed the planned route of their grand final procession after the incident, telling fans that public safety was the priority. The team had been set to depart for Sydney ahead of Sunday’s decider, with thousands of supporters expected to line the route out of the city.
The club said it shared the disappointment of fans who had hoped to see the players but that the decision was unavoidable after the emergency road closure.
Grand final context: 25 years in the making
Sunday’s NRL grand final on October 4, 2026, will be Newcastle’s first appearance in the decider since 2001 — ending a 25-year wait. The city has been gripped by grand final fever all week, with supporters painting houses red and blue and lining up for Knights-themed merchandise ahead of the club’s unlikely run to the final after finishing bottom of the table in 2025.
Authorities have not released further details about those injured. This is a developing story; follow the latest updates on the Newcastle crash on Watan News and see more coverage on our World news page.
