Hunter Valley bus driver’s alleged boast before horror crash that killed 10 wedding guests
A bus driver charged over a horror Hunter Valley crash that claimed the lives of 10 wedding guests allegedly made a chilling boast to those on board seconds before tragedy struck.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A bus driver charged over a horror Hunter Valley crash that claimed the lives of 10 passengers on their way home from a wedding allegedly made a chilling boast to those on board just seconds before tragedy struck.
Brett Andrew Button, 58, allegedly told passengers “if you think that was fast … watch this” moments before he lost control of the coach he was driving at a roundabout on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway off ramp at Greta.
Multiple survivors have told police and close friends Button allegedly made the remarks over the vehicle’s internal microphone minutes after leaving the wedding of Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney.
Other survivors have told close friends that the speed of the bus had prompted them to tell other passengers to get back into their seats as the bus approached the roundabout in thick fog.
Button was late on Monday charged with 11 offences including 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death - drive manner dangerous, and one count of negligent driving (occasioning death).
He was refused bail and spent the night in custody ahead of an appearance at Cessnock Local Court on Tuesday.
The scene that confronted paramedics, police and firefighters has been described as being like a scene out of a “war”.
Limbs and other body parts were found scattered around the crash scene, while blood bathed the grass on the roadside near where the bus came to a halt.
Horrifying audio from a first responder describes how the man can see seven “code fours” – a technical phrase for fatalities – and another passenger who is “red label” meaning they are in a critical condition.
An emotional Premier Chris Minns urged people “to hug someone and remember how precious life is” in the wake of the tragedy.
“I woke up this morning to hear devastating news in an area that we normally associate with so much happiness and joy,” Mr Minns said.
“To think that people came together to experience a day of joy and instead have been met with undeniable despair is truly shocking to the people of NSW.
“Whatever the final toll is in this terrible accident, it will be more than we can bear.
“The next few days and the next few weeks may be worse than the initial shock as it fully comes to the realisation of what this community has gone through.”
The bus was travelling from Wandin Estate in Lovedale, 50 minutes west of Newcastle, to Singleton when the crash occurred.
On board were 35 guests from the wedding, most of them from Singleton and interstate.
Hours earlier they had been celebrating the union of Mr and Mrs Gaffney in a picture perfect affair.
The bride had been driven by her father to the ceremony in a restored 1952 Volkswagen Beetle convertible.
But as they ate, drank and danced through the night, they could have never imagined the horror that lay ahead.
As the night wound up and the bride and groom returned to their private accommodation at the Wandin Estate venue, some guests hopped onto the coach.
Surviving the carnage was local newspaper editor and the wedding’s master of ceremonies, Alex Tigani.
His mother Loretta, from Geelong in Victoria, said her son called her about 3am “very upset” after seeing his mates killed in the crash.
“They’re monitoring him for concussion, he was covered with other people’s blood,” Ms Tigani said.
“For him being the local reporter you get to know everyone.
“He was very emotional because he’s seen a lot of his mates die. It’s a small town so everybody knows each other.”
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman fronted media early on Monday morning, explaining that investigators expected charges to be laid - a rare admission so soon after a crash of such magnitude.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb arrived in the Hunter on Monday afternoon to meet with and thank the officers who had been among the first responders.
“I’m sure you can share with me in just imagining how tragic that is for not only the first responders and all those that are responding, but … their families that are affected by this,” Commissioner Webb said.
“The most complex part of this job for police now is actually accounting for the victims and the passengers on the bus.
“Police have the arduous task now of matching individuals from the bus to property located in the bus, and you can imagine for those that have seen that scene that is going to be a complex task.”
Not long after Commissioner Webb arrived at the scene a crane that had been brought in was able to lift the bus back to upright.
Underneath were the remains of several wedding guests who did not survive the crash.
A report will now be prepared for the coroner with Commissioner Webb saying that the use of seatbelts will undoubtedly be one of the matters looked at.
“Whether they were actually wearing seatbelts or not … certainly all of that will come under scrutiny,” she said.
“Again that will be a matter the coroner will have a look and ultimately the driver will have to think about that for the rest of his life.”
Police Minister blames Border Force for flood of cocaine
Police Minister Yasmin Catley has taken an extraordinary swipe at Australian Border Force, blaming it the prevalence of cocaine in Sydney.
Read more
Alleged kingpin arrested over $10m luxury car loans fraud
The alleged mastermind behind what police say is a Sydney criminal syndicate that obtained millions of dollars in fraudulent loans for luxury cars that did not exist has been charged.
Read more