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Duncan Murray and Adelaide Lang

Extra charges for teen driver in Newcastle crash

A P-plater has been charged with eight extra offences after a car crashed into a crowd in Newcastle. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

Police have charged the alleged driver involved in a horror crash involving NRL fans before the grand final with eight extra charges.

Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe is accused of being behind the wheel of a BMW that struck a crowd of people gathered on the side of the road to farewell the Newcastle Knights team on October 3.

The incident left 10 people in hospital, including a five-year-old girl. 

Scene of car crash
Ten people were taken to hospital after a car ploughed into NRL fans lining a road near Newcastle. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

On Tuesday, police charged Samarasinghe with an additional six counts of causing grievous bodily harm by misconduct as well as one count of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and one count of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

He was previously charged with nine offences including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving and causing bodily harm by misconduct.

The 18-year-old was released on bail on Friday after spending six nights behind bars on remand. 

He has not yet been required to enter pleas for any of the charges. 

Samarasinghe's bail conditions include that he not operate or occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle, report to police daily, surrender his passport, and abstain from drugs and alcohol. 

Scene of Newcastle car crash
Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe is accused of being behind the wheel of a BMW that struck the crowd. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

A nightly curfew was also imposed on the teenager, who won’t be able to leave his house between 8pm and 7am and must present himself at the front door for police checks. 

During the day, he can leave the house in the company of two approved persons, according to the bail conditions. 

Samarasinghe, a resident of Randwick in Sydney’s east, was also barred from entering the Newcastle area except when attending court.

The P-plater allegedly had two passengers in the car at the time of the crash that left 10 people in hospital, including a five-year-old girl. 

He will return to court on October 15.

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