NSW Police confirmed the driver of the single vehicle was arrested at the scene. Preliminary reports indicate the driver was performing burnouts on the road in an attempt to energize the crowd. The collision resulted in two individuals in critical condition, two in serious condition, and five with minor injuries. Among those in critical condition is an infant girl who suffered a cardiac arrest and is currently fighting for her life. A second critical patient is a man who sustained multiple leg fractures.
“Several people have been injured and are currently receiving treatment at the scene,” NSW Police stated. “The driver of the vehicle was arrested at the scene.” The incident has cast a shadow over the NRL Grand Final weekend, with NSW Premier Chris Minns describing the event as “heartbreaking” to see fans involved in such a terrible incident while sending off their team.
Amidst the tragedy, the NRL released the lineup for the Grand Final pre-game entertainment, which includes Australian singer Amy Shark. The announcement prompted the resurfacing of comments she made in April regarding the NRL’s financial treatment of music artists. Speaking at an AFL event last year, Billings stated that the NRL had been underpaying performers.
“I’m from Queensland, so unfortunately I’ve had NRL pushed in front of me, which kind of sucks,” Billings said at the time. She added, “In case someone is filming this … actually you know what, screw them. Honestly, they just screw around artists, you guys actually understand artists, thank you for doing that.”
Following the NRL’s announcement that she would perform during the pre-game entertainment on Sunday night, Billings took to Instagram to address the situation. She shared a video of herself celebrating the Brisbane Broncos at a match, captioning it: “11 months ago. I love the game… don’t believe the noise.” The post appeared designed to quash any perceived bad blood between the artist and the code, signaling a willingness to move past previous criticisms.
The Grand Final is scheduled to take place on Sunday night, with the pre-game entertainment featuring Billings. The NRL has not issued a further statement regarding the specific contractual details of her appearance or a response to her past comments. The focus for the sporting community now shifts to the safety of the fans and the outcome of the final match, while the legal proceedings against the driver of the vehicle in Newcastle are expected to proceed.
The incident in Newcastle serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with large-scale public gatherings and the responsibility of security and traffic management during high-profile sporting events. Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the driver’s actions prior to the collision.
