The driver of a bus that overturned while returning from a wedding in the New South Wales Hunter Valley overnight, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people and multiple people being injured, has been charged by police.
Brett Button has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death.
The 58-year-old was refused bail and will appear at Cessnock Local Court tomorrow.
Just after 11.30pm on Sunday, emergency services were called to the roundabout on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp at Greta.
The bus, which had 36 people onboard including the driver, overturned approaching the third exit of the roundabout, the passenger side falling onto the guardrail.
Patients treated across four hospitals
As of 2pm, one patient was in a critical but stable condition and eight patients were in a stable condition at John Hunter Hospital, including two patients who were transferred from Maitland Hospital to John Hunter Hospital.
Three patients are in a stable condition at Maitland Hospital.
One patient is in a stable condition at Calvary Mater Newcastle and two patients are in a stable condition at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
A number of patients have been treated and discharged.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said it was a “very complex scene”, with work still ongoing.
“Our thoughts are with all those family affected by this,” Webb said.
“I can’t imagine what they must be feeling.”
NSW Police are expected give an update on the investigation at 8am on Tuesday. You can follow a livestream on the 9News app.
The commissioner said it continued to be a “complex” and “delicate operation” at the crash site.
The front window of the bus was last night smashed to get some passengers out, although some survivors were able to walk out by themselves.
Police are continuing to identify victims and speak to family members of those killed, as well as survivors.
A command centre has been set up at Cessnock Police Station to field calls.
It’s not known if the passengers were wearing seatbelts, the Commissioner said.
Police are due to give an update on the investigation at 8am on Tuesday.
Wedding day joy turns to tragedy
The bus was carrying guests following the wedding of newly-married couple Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell, who grew up in Melbourne and are understood to have moved to NSW.
Many guests at the wedding, including the groom, are believed to be members of the Singleton Roosters Australian Rules football team.
Guests at the wedding also included players from Warrandyte Cricket Club in Melbourne, where Gaffney used to play.
Warrandyte Cricket Club president Royce Jaksic told The Sydney Morning Herald there were up to nine current players and their partners on the bus at the time of the crash.
Jaksic said some wedding guests had suffered “some minor injuries – a broken jaw, a broken collarbone, things like that”.
“But you know, compared to the 10 people that have tragically lost their lives, I think we’ve been blessed in this one,” he said.
“If you do the math, they’ve been extremely lucky. We’ve just got fingers and toes crossed that no-one else loses their lives.”
Locals among crash victims
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said NSW Premier Chris Minns had confirmed to him that locals had been caught up in the tragedy.
The bus had been carrying guests who had just attended a wedding at the nearby Wandin Estate winery and was on the way to Singleton.
Police believe the bus appears to be the only vehicle involved in the crash.
Chapman said police were still trying to identify everybody who had been on the bus.
She urged people who thought their relatives or loved ones may have been involved, to contact Cessnock Police Station on (02) 4991 0199.
Helicopters were hampered from landing at the crash site due to fog and had to divert to a nearby housing development.
Albanese pledged this morning that the federal government would offer “whatever support is necessary” to the families, as more details emerged.
The crash is likely to rank alongside Australia’s worst road disasters.
The deadliest on record is a collision near Kempsey on the NSW Mid North Coast, when two buses collided head-on while travelling on the Pacific Highway, killing 35.
Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal urged people to consider how they could help, including by donating blood as hospitals strove to patch up patients.
Emergency call after crash revealed
A paramedic who arrived on the scene called for assistance, with the recording revealing the extent of the carnage faced by first responders.
“Major incident declared. We have a bus rollover, multiple patients,” he said.
“The exact location is on Wine Country Drive overpass. We have police, fire brigade on scene.
“At this stage, we have identified seven, I repeat, seven, code fours.”
A “code four” is a person who has died.
The caller also said there was one “red label” patient also expected to die, and multiple red (critical) and orange (serious) patients.
“I need all resources allocated to continue, I am still trying to work out exactly how many patients I have here,” the paramedic said.
‘Devastating loss’ mourned
The couple’s wedding venue, the Wandin Estate winery, issued a brief statement this morning, saying they were “deeply saddened”.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the victims and we are supporting them in any way we can,” the owners said.
“At this time, we are providing support to those guests who need our help and we wish to maintain their privacy, and won’t be making any further statements at this time.”
The winery will stay closed today.
Albanese said all Australians sent their “deepest sympathies” to victims’ loved ones.
“For a joyous day like that, in a beautiful place, to end with such terrible loss of life and injury is so cruel, and so sad, and so unfair,” he said in a statement this morning.
“People hire a bus for weddings into order to keep their guests safe and that just adds to the unimaginable nature of this tragedy.”
He praised the efforts of first responders and offered support to the victims.
“Australia wraps its arms around you, and Australians’ hopes and prayers are with you on this tragic day,” he said.
Suvaal said it was “absolutely horrific” news.
“My thoughts are obviously with the people involved in the accident, but their families and friends as well as the first responders on the scene, because it must have been truly horrible for them as well,” he said.
He said it would send “shockwaves” through the community.
“We are a close-knit community, and there will be massive showings of support I would imagine throughout the day,” he said.
Bus line issues statement
Transport company Linq Buslines has issued a statement following the crash.
“We are incredibly saddened to learn of the bus crash that has occurred overnight,” the statement read.
“Our hearts are with everyone involved in this terrible tragedy and we send our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones.
“We would like to thank the first responders to the scene, the emergency personnel and those who are continuing to assist.
“Trauma counselling services have been made available to all staff and their families at Linq Buslines.
“We are working with NSW Police and authorities as they investigate.
“It would be inappropriate for us to comment further while the investigation is underway.”
Hunter Valley bus crash: What we know
- A bus carrying guests from a wedding in the NSW Hunter region overturned at about 11.30pm.
- 10 people have been confirmed dead
- The driver, a 58-year-old man, has been charged
- Police continue to work on identifying everybody who was on board the bus
Anybody with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
People are asked to not contact Cessnock Police Station with information to leave that line free for people seeking their loved ones and relatives.
