Demolition derby car ploughs into crowd, injuring nine
Thirteen people were injured, two critically, when a car crashed into a crowd at the demolition derby in the state’s northwest on Saturday night.
A 54-year-old man with a spinal injury and a man in his 30s with a head injury were taken by helicopter to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
The other 11 victims, aged between 20 and 75, were transported to hospitals in Armidale, Tamworth and Walcha; six were seriously injured.
In the horrifying footage taken by a spectator, the yellow demolition derby car driven by a 27-year-old driver can be seen driving directly towards the spectators without slowing down, breaking through the fences around the field and knocking down another structure that looked like a tent.
Citizens immediately started running towards the field to help the injured.
The other 11 victims, aged between 20 and 75, were transported to hospitals in Armidale, Tamworth and Walcha; six were seriously injured.
“Our thoughts and best wishes are with these people at this time,” New England Congressman Barnaby Joyce said.
The incident occurred at around 6.15pm at the Walcha showground, about 90km east of Tamworth, where the Walcha Motorcycle Rally was held at the weekend.
