The 18-year-old provisional driver accused of driving a car into a crowd of Newcastle Knights rugby league supporters has appeared in court and been remanded in custody after bail was formally refused.

Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, of Wallsend, did not apply for bail during a brief hearing at Newcastle Police Station on Sunday, as reported by the Daily Mail. His legal representative asked the court for a warrant for Samarasinghe to undergo a health assessment in prison, which the magistrate was told would likely include a review of his mental health.

Samarasinghe was arrested at the scene on Saturday after his gold BMW allegedly mounted the pavement and struck 10 pedestrians who had gathered to cheer the Newcastle Knights team coach. He was taken to hospital for mandatory testing before being charged and having his licence suspended.

New South Wales Police confirmed Samarasinghe faces nine charges: three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, three counts of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and three counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle.

Meanwhile, a five-year-old girl critically injured in the collision remains in an induced coma following multiple surgical procedures. A relative, Ashleigh Gibbs, confirmed via an online fundraising appeal that the child is in a critical but stable condition. Her mother was also seriously injured and requires further surgery. NSW Police confirmed that the condition of an injured 67-year-old man has improved from critical to serious but stable.

Four other casualties remain in hospital in a stable condition: a second five-year-old girl, a two-year-old girl, a 31-year-old woman, and a 48-year-old man. Four people have been discharged: a 63-year-old woman and three men aged 24, 25, and 27. (We previously reported that one of the injured men was 57 years old.)

The collision occurred at approximately 9:30am local time on Saturday at the Transfield Avenue roundabout on Newcastle Link Road. Emergency services launched a major rescue response, deploying more than 10 ambulances and three helicopters to treat the injured pedestrians before taking them to hospital.

The Newcastle Knights confirmed that the team coach route was altered following the incident. The vehicle had not yet reached that section of Newcastle Link Road, allowing the squad to continue their journey to Sydney via an alternative route.

Local MP Sonia Hornery urged the public to avoid the area during the emergency response, saying: "I've just become aware of an incident involving a vehicle colliding with pedestrians on Newcastle Link Road while knights fans were there to cheer on the team coach. Emergency services are on site. Newcastle Link Road is closed in both directions. Please avoid the area. I hope everyone involved is ok."

Thousands of supporters had lined the route ahead of Sunday's National Rugby League grand final between Newcastle and the Sydney Roosters. The match marks Newcastle's first grand final appearance in 25 years, with both squads featuring prominent English players: winger Dom Young for the Knights and Victor Radley for the Roosters.

NSW Police have stated that initial inquiries indicate the incident is not terror-related. Officers continue to appeal for anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

Inquiries into the circumstances of the collision remain ongoing, and I will update this report as further verified details are confirmed.