Nine people were injured, one critically, after a car crashed into a crowd during a demolition derby in southeastern Australia, police said.
The car had been taking part in a race in the town of Walcha on Saturday night when it drove through a fence and hit the grandstand, New South Wales police said in a statement.
The race, part of the annual Walcha Motorcycle Rally, had been a demolition derby - a type of motorsport where drivers ram their vehicles into one another.
Police stated that the ages of the injured bystanders ranged from 20 to 75, with the critically injured person being a 54-year-old man. An investigation is currently underway.
In further detail, police confirmed that the 27-year-old driver of the car had been in a collision on the track just before veering into the fence.
In a statement on the Walcha Motorcycle Rally's Facebook page, the Walcha Council expressed that they were shocked and stunned at the unfortunate accident and would collaborate with authorities to investigate the circumstances that led to this incident.
Brendan Moylan, representing the Northern Tablelands where Walcha is located, thanked emergency responders and bystanders for their swift and incredibly professional work at the scene. He expressed his thoughts for everyone affected on social media.
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce also shared his condolences on Facebook, stating that it was a sad end to such a great event.
The Walcha Motorcycle Rally is described as a grassroots event for motorcycle enthusiasts.
