P-plater in horror Newcastle Knights car crash previously lost his licence
An 18-year-old driver with a history of license suspension has been charged after crashing into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters, injuring 10 people. The incident occurred as fans gathered to see off the team for the NRL grand final.
Why it matters
The event highlights issues regarding road safety, recidivism in young drivers, and the impact of public safety incidents on community events.
— 12:55pm , first published October 4, 2026 — 8:21am
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Share A A A The 18-year-old P-plate driver who ploughed into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters on Saturday and injured 10 people, some critically, previously had his driving licence suspended.
Court records show Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe was suspended from driving in February and unsuccessfully appealed against the suspension in April.
Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe was arrested at the crash site. Samarasinghe was arrested at the crash site and taken for mandatory drug and alcohol testing. He was later charged with three counts each of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and causing bodily harm by misconduct in charge of a motor vehicle. His licence has again been suspended.
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