STAR NRL forward Pauli Pauli’s season with the Newcastle Knights is in tatters after suffering a dislocated hip in a “horrific” seven-car pileup on Wednesday night.

Pauli, 22, was driving a Subaru Liberty in wet conditions with four passengers — with at least two of them family members — when the accident occurred on the M1 motorway.

His car, a Toyota MR2 and a Mazda Tribute collided south of the Hawkesbury River about 10pm. Four more vehicles — a Toyota RAV4, a VW Golf, a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota Hilux — consequently smashed into one another as they attempted to avoid the wreckage.

media_camera Pauli Pauli in action for the Knights last year.

Ten people, including two children, were rushed to hospital.

The promising young prop sustained a serious hip injury and was rushed to Gosford Hospital, while his 18-year-old male passenger in Pauli’s vehicle suffered a suspected spinal injury, a 27-year-old woman broke her leg and a fourth passenger, a 15-year-old boy, broke his collar bone. It is understood at least the woman and 15-year-old were directly related to Pauli.

media_camera Seven vehicles were involved in the M1 crash. Picture: Bill Hearne

The Newcastle Knights club, which Pauli joined from Parramatta Eels at the start of 2016, was eager to get information to anxious supporters.

“Pauli Pauli was involved in a car accident on Wednesday night on the M1. Pauli has a dislocated hip and remains in Gosford Hospital,” the club said in a statement.

“Club staff are with Pauli and will continue to provide any relevant updates.”

Pauli has played 48 NRL matches, 15 were for the Knights last season.

The driver of the MR2, a 66-year-old man, is stable in Royal North Shore Hospital with chest and head injuries while the 58-year-old woman in the Tribute has a chest injury.

A 10-month-old baby was also rushed to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead for assessment.

media_camera Crash Investigation officers on site trying to establish the cause of the incident. Picture: Bill Hearne

From the second wave of vehicles, the driver of the Golf, a 50-year-old man from Woy Woy, was taken to hospital with chest pain; a 47-year-old passenger is being checked for chest and neck injuries and a 13-year-old girl has been treated for bruising.

The driver of the Mercedes, a 63-year-old woman from Morisset Park, escaped serious injury, as did the 42-year-old man from South Australia, escaped serious injury.

M1 northbound lanes were closed for three hours as traffic was diverted onto the Old Pacific Hwy at Berowra.

The incident was described by witnesses as “horrific” with “cars everywhere”.

One driver, Vivienne Lewy, spoke of how she ran to help her friend, Peter, after the pair collided at the tail-end of the pile up.

media_camera The M1 motorway at Cowan is blocked off by fire and rescue workers. Picture: Bill Hearne

The pair had earlier been playing tennis but drove home separately.

Peter was taken to Gosford Hospital.

“It was raining, it wasn’t raining hard. I came around the bend and there was nowhere to go. It is the most scary thing in your life,” Ms Lewy said.

“I put my breaks on ... you could hear the grinding.

“Accidents are frightening, I’m lucky to be standing here. I’ve got to thank my lucky stars, I think someone was on my side.”

media_camera Ten people were treated by NSW Ambulance and transported to hospital. Picture: Bill Hearne

Witness Peter Martin, who drove past the scene near the Hawkesbury River Bridge, described­ the aftermath as “really nasty”.

“It’s a mess, it’s a real mess, there’s a car into a wall, there are cars facing the wrong way ... there was debris everywhere,” he said.

“There were cars everywhere … it went for 30m.”

Police last night said the Crash Investigation Unit would be investigating how the accident occurred.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to the crash to contact police via Crime Stoppers.