Heartbreak of groom after wedding day bus crash

A father-of-four who was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease had his wedding day turn to horror when the minibus he was taking to his nuptials rolled off a cliff.

A father-of-four who was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease had his wedding day turned to horror when the minibus he was taking to his nuptials rolled off a cliff.

John Barrett was just hours away from marrying his fiancee Michelle Murphy when the maxi-taxi he and his groomsmen were in veered off Mount View Rd at Mount View, just outside Cessnock in the Hunter Valley, about 10.30am on Wednesday.

Mr Barrett had been diagnosed with the debilitating MND and required a wheelchair, resulting in him being stuck inside the vehicle for 45 minutes after it flipped seven times and rolled 40m down an embankment.

Horrified wedding guests who were travelling in convoy behind the taxi on their way to the ceremony at nearby Molines Bistro at the Tallavera Grove vineyard called Triple-0.

John Barrett and Michelle Murphy.

Mr Barrett, who suffered limb injuries, and another man, who suffered spinal injuries, were both airlifted to John Hunter Hospital by rescue helicopter in critical conditions.

The 73-year-old driver of the taxi, who is understood to be experienced, and the three other passengers were all taken to John Hunter Hospital by ambulance in a stable condition.

On Tuesday afternoon, police said three occupants of the maxi-taxi remained in hospital in a stable condition, while the other three had been discharged. They did not specify who had been released.

Police sources said the investigation was looking at what had led the vehicle to veer to the left, before falling down the embankment, with the driver set to undergo mandatory blood and alcohol testing.

Mr Barrett, known to his mates as “JB”, had received much support from the local community in the wake of his MND diagnosis, with multiple fundraisers organised from which donations would go to finding a cure.

The driver of the taxi, who is understood to be experienced, and his passengers were all taken to John Hunter Hospital. Picture: Carey Harris

On Wednesday morning, hours before the guests were due to arrive for the midweek celebration, the wedding venue had been set up with flowers and decorations.

But as they travelled to the venue in the Cessnock-Branxton Taxi, the special day turned to tragedy.

The Hunter Valley Police District commander, Superintendent Steve Laksa, said it was incredibly “fortunate” the crash had not proved fatal.

“(It is a) tragic situation and actually hadn’t got to the wedding yet so they still have a wedding in front of them but we’re very fortunate that the injuries weren’t fatal.

“It definitely could have been worse.”

NSW Ambulance Superintendent Jake Broughton-Rouse said despite the isolated location of the crash, emergency crews were onsight within 15 minutes.

The minibus carrying the wedding party rolled down a hill in Mount View. Picture Carey Harris.

“Two critically unwell patients were transported by helicopter to John Hunter Hospital, and the four stable patients were transported by road to John Hunter Hospital,” Supt Broughton-Rouse said.

“One of our critically unwell patients was a 60-year-old male suffering head injuries... (the) other critically unwell patient was a 50-year-old male suffering limb injuries.”

This incident follows the horror Hunter Valley bus crash in June 2023 that claimed the lives of 10 wedding guests and injured 25 others.

That crash occurred near Greta as guests were being transported from a reception at Wandin Estate, with the bus rolling while navigating a roundabout in thick fog.

The driver, Brett Andrew Button, was later sentenced to 24 years in jail.

Originally published as Heartbreak of groom after wedding day bus crash