‘He’s blacked out’: Demolition derby car ploughs into crowd at NSW show

Thirteen people have been injured, including a man who suffered critical spinal injuries, after a car ploughed into the crowd at a demolition derby event in the state’s north-west on Saturday night.

Demolition derby driver Blake Taylor said his 27-year-old brother, Steven, had blacked out behind the wheel with his foot wedged on the accelerator before smashing through a perimeter fence into the crowd at Walcha showgrounds, 90 kilometres east of Tamworth, about 6.15pm on Saturday.

Terrifying footage captured the moment of impact as the car demolished a temporary grandstand and sent people flying through the air.

A 54-year-old man with spinal injuries and a 34-year-old man with a head injury were taken by helicopter to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle in critical condition. On Sunday afternoon, police reported their condition as stable.

A 74-year-old man who suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries was airlifted to St George Hospital in a stable condition.

The other victims, aged between 20 and 75, were transported to hospitals in Armidale and Tamworth and have since been released. Police late on Sunday updated the number of people injured to 13.

“My brother Steven has hit a car in the middle of the field,” said Blake Taylor, an experienced demolition derby driver at the event, in a video he posted on Facebook on Sunday morning. His brother, Steven Taylor, is a driver with “Tha Boyz” demolition derby team.

“As he’s gone to drive forward, he’s blacked out ... his foot has been wedged hard on the accelerator to the point that Steven has not stopped.

“He’s come through the fence down here. This grandstand here was full of people. As you can see, it’s far over here at the moment.”

Taylor’s video showed the grandstand in pieces about 15 metres back from its original position near the fence. Debris including hats and cups still littered the site of the impact.

“As the first person got to him, apparently he was slumped right over on the floor, he’s tried to jump up and put the thing in reverse, everyone’s told him to stop,” Taylor said.

Bystanders rushed to help seconds after the impact. Eyewitnesses described the scene on social media as people rendered first aid, held up tarpaulins to protect the injured as torrential rain poured down, and even dug small trenches to stop the area from being flooded.

The driver was treated for minor injuries and was taken to Walcha Hospital for mandatory testing, police said.

“My thoughts, prayers and hopes are with those now in critical care after the incident at Walcha tonight after a vehicle in the derby collided with spectators,” said New England MP Barnaby Joyce.

“Thank you to all the off-duty nurses and first responders who immediately dropped everything to help the injured in the storm.”

Walcha Council mayor Eric Noakes described the incident as a “freak accident”.

“I’m up at the showground now and it’s a pretty solemn place,” he said. “Nobody expected this outcome out of a thing like this. We’re a very small community ... council’s and the community’s thoughts are with the affected people and their families.”

Police crash investigators went to the racecourse to examine the site of the incident.

The annual Walcha Motorcycle Rally is held across two days, this year on November 14 and 15, and features a range of motorcycle-based events and competitions, including Postie Bike Soccer and Dirt Bike Barrel races, as well as other motor contests such as the demolition derby.

With AAP

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