Ten individuals sustained injuries when a vehicle plowed into a crowd in Newcastle, Australia, on Saturday, following what seemed to be a loss of control by the driver, as per authorities. The 18-year-old driver was apprehended at the scene in Wallsend, a suburb located about 110 kilometers north of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales.
The incident took place as spectators had gathered along local streets to bid farewell to the Newcastle Knights rugby league team, set to participate in the National Rugby League grand final in Sydney the next day. Among the injured, a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man were reported to be in critical condition.
Newcastle Mayor Gavin Morris remarked in a televised statement that the driver appeared to have struggled to control the vehicle, possibly due to revving the engine. Law enforcement authorities mentioned that initial assessments pointed towards the incident not being linked to terrorism.