A speedway race car crashed into a crowd of spectators in New South Wales, Australia, injuring at least nine people, one critically, authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred Saturday evening at the Walcha Showground in the Northern Tablelands.
Emergency services were called to the Walcha Showground on Derby Street around 6:15 PM local time (UTC+10). Bystanders had already begun to render aid.
NSW Ambulance personnel transported seven men and two women, aged between 20 and 75, to Walcha Hospital.
A 54-year-old man was critically injured in the crash. Three other individuals sustained serious injuries.
The four most severely injured victims were expected to be transferred to larger hospitals later that night for specialized care.
Police reported that the 27-year-old driver’s vehicle collided with another car on the racetrack. Immediately afterward, his car breached a barrier and struck a group of spectators who were on a movable stand.
The driver is also receiving treatment in the hospital. Friends of the driver conveyed his profound regret over the accident via social media.
One friend noted the driver was “deeply sorry” about what happened. Police have seized both the driver’s vehicle and the other car involved in the track collision as part of their investigation.
Another driver described the crash as an unavoidable accident. He said, “I love and respect everyone I meet through the derby circuit, and for something like this to happen, I knew immediately that something was very seriously wrong.”
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident. Police are appealing for anyone with video footage or information related to the crash to come forward.