Hunter Valley wedding bus crash: 10 dead, 25 rushed to hospital after horror weekend rollover
The man allegedly behind the wheel of a bus whose awful crash killed 10 people has been named and charged. WARNING: Graphic content
The driver of a bus that crashed in the Hunter Valley killing 10 people and injuring another 25 has been charged by police.
Brett Andrew Button, 58, from Maitland is now facing 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death after his bus carrying 35 people overturned on a roundabout.
The group was leaving the wedding of Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell at Wandin Valley Estate, a popular wedding venue in Lovedale, in NSW’s Hunter Valley on Sunday night.
Mr Button will appear at Cessnock Local Court on Tuesday after being refused bail on Monday.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb described the incident as an “awful situation”.
“I’m sure you can share with me in just imagining how tragic this is, for not only the first responders and all those that are responding but certainly I’m thinking of their families that are affected by this,” she said.
Authorities are currently going through the “complex” task of accounting for victims and passengers on the bus, according to police.
“You can imagine the scene that was confronting police when they attended and that some people were transported to different locations and then rediverted, so police have the arduous task now of matching individuals from the bus to property located in the bus,” Ms Webb said.
“So it is going to take time and it is probably frustrating for families, but I’m sure families want to get this right, so we need to just take our time.”
It has also been revealed that a group of people on the bus were from a Victorian cricket club.
Warrandyte Cricket Club president Royce Jaksic believes that eight players and five of their partners were caught up in the crash and were lucky to escape with injuries, including a broken jaw and broken collarbone.
“We feel blessed that our players and partners will survive this crash and then our thoughts and prayers turn to those who lost their lives and those still fighting for life,” he told NCA NewsWire.
“We’re not aware of those that have passed and whether they might be Warrandyte people who may not have been involved with cricket, we’re unsure of that.”
Mr Jaksic said he had not spoken to the newlyweds in the wake of the crash.
“We’re giving them the space that they need and imagine in the years to come that your wedding anniversary has this to mar it,” he said.
“I think everyone is still in a bit of a state of shock, but the beautiful thing about the Warrandyte community is that it looks after its own and everyone seems to be banding together.”
The group caught up in the crash will be supported by their cricket club according to its secretary Robert Hay.
“Obviously we will be fully supporting these people and doing our best to help them,” he said.
“It‘s a terrible situation they’ve been put in.”
There are 15 people who remain in hospital after the event, with the majority being treated at John Hunter Hospital.
One patient at that hospital is in a critical but stable condition and a further eight are in a stable condition, with two patients transferred from Maitland Hospital.
There are three patients in a stable condition at Maitland.
There are a further two patients in a stable condition in the Royal Prince Alfred and one at Calvary Mater Newcastle.
Aerial shots of the crime scene reveal white skid marks near the bus, where it’s believed the vehicle rolled onto its side during the fatal incident.
The bus was lifted upright after several hours, a task which was delicate due to people who were still inside.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman described the scene as “frantic”.
“A number of passengers we were able to extract through the front windscreen of the bus and then deal with those in terms of that triage process with NSW Ambulance,” she said.
The 58-year-old bus driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries for mandatory assessment but has since been arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station, where he is going through the charging process. .
Emergency services rushed to a roundabout at Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp at Greta just after 11.30pm.
“I’m aware that it was confronting and very traumatic scene. Wherever you’ve got that large-scale incident with that many people it’s going to be difficult for anyone,” Ms Chapman said.
“It’s a tragic set of circumstances.
“From a policing perspective, our role is to make sure that we undertake a full and thorough investigation to ensure that some comfort may be given to the public at the conclusion of that process.”
Ms Chapman also confirmed charges against the driver were pending.
“He’s the driver of a motor vehicle, there is sufficient information for us to establish that there will be charges but I won’t go into the detail about those at this time,” she said.
“I can’t comment on the circumstances of the accident. It’s far too early.”
Police are still attempting to identify the deceased and urged family and friends to reach out to Cessnock Police Station if they have concerns. No children are believed to be among the fatalities
“If there are friends or family of anyone who may have been on that bus, we are still trying to identify all of the people on the bus. They can contact Cessnock police station,” Ms Chapman said.
‘Beautiful’ wedding before crash
The couple’s marriage celebrant, Ashley Ogle, who runs a business called The Hunter Valley Celebrant, said the bride and groom met each other before the ceremony at a first-look.
Ms Edsell also arrived at the ceremony in a restored 1957 Volkswagen Beetle, which her father had restored for the wedding.
“It was so cool to see her rock up in this bug,” Ms Ogle said in a video shared on social media.
“Beautiful people; I’m so happy to have married you also.”
Visiting the area, NSW Premier Chris Minns said the fatal crash would have a profound impact on the local, tight-knit community.
“There’ll be many days of healing and trauma that these families (will) go through in the coming days,” he said.
“Whatever the final toll in this terrible accident, it’ll be more than we can bare.
“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 the community has gone through.
“Clearly we’ve been dealt a terrible, terrible accident in NSW.”
The owners of the local bus company, Linq, said they were “working with NSW Police and authorities” in their investigation, and said trauma counselling services had been made available to staff and their families.
The business, which offers charters for schools and events, said its buses were equipped with seatbelts.
“We are incredibly saddened to learn of the bus crash that has occurred overnight. Our hearts are with everyone involved in this terrible tragedy and we send our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones,” a statement read.
“We would like to thank the first responders to the scene, the emergency personnel and those who are continuing to assist.”
A statement from the venue shared its “heartfelt condolences” to family and friends of the victims.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the bus crash overnight that has claimed the lives of some of our guests,” the statement said.
“We are supporting them in any way we can.
“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.”
Ms Chapman said police believe the bus was travelling to Singleton – about 34 minutes away – to drop guests off at their accommodation.
Ms Chapman said at least two patients were flown from the crash scene.
Sunrise reported that some passengers had limbs severed in the crash, and guests had sustained critical and life-threatening injuries.
While the majority of patients were transported to John Hunter Hospital, which is equipped with major trauma facilities, guests were also transported to Maitland Hospital, Mater Hospital and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
On Monday morning, some mourners left flowers at the crash site.
Anyone with information has been advised to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, in order to leave the phones at Cessnock Police Station available for concerned family members.
‘Need all resources:’ Emergency services call released
Audio of a man calling the incident in and pleading for more resources has also been shared on Today. The request was lodged after police and fire and rescue were initially called to the scene.
“At this stage we have identified seven, I repeat seven code fours. We have one red label patient whose injuries are severe and unfortunately we’re expecting many more who will go to code four,” he said.
“We have multiple red and orange label patients at this stage, I need all resources allocated to continue. I’m still trying to work out exactly how many patients I have here.”
Code fours are used to refer to a patient who has died. A red label patient is a triage term for someone who requires critical, priority treatment, while orange is urgent.
Initial reports indicate 18 people were uninjured.
One wedding guest told Sunrise it was a “fairytale” celebration before guests received the horror news.
“It was a nice day, a pretty good wedding … fairytale stuff really … and we went to come back and get drunk, and we got the news that there had been a crash, and we all started panicking,” he said.
‘Deepest sympathies:’ PM comments on ‘cruel’ tragedy
Anthony Albanese has commented on Sunday night’s “unimaginable” crash, and reiterated his support for the people and families involved.
“My government will provide whatever support is necessary for the families as details become clearer. For now we are thinking of you,” he said.
“Australia wraps its arms around you.”
He said the “mental scars” of the horror crash would linger for years to come, as he threw his support behind the victims, the families, the emergency services workers and the broader community.
Mr Albanese said it was “so cruel, so sad, and so unfair” for a “joyous” wedding day in a beautiful place to end with “such terrible loss of life and injuries”.
Mr Albanese also thanked the first responders who were confronted with an unimaginable scene late on Sunday.
“They did as they always do – they did their job. They did their best … trying to save lives and to assist in the recovery,” he said.
“To them – to the doctors, nurses and police and emergency services, to those who transported the injured to hospital, I say thank you. I also say thank you to those people who will continue to assist in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.”
Mr Minns said it was a “profoundly tragic event”.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of those who have been killed in this accident and those who are injured,” he said.
“I know the whole community of NSW, and in particular the people of the Hunter, will be shocked and saddened to wake up to this news today.
“I thank our emergency services personnel and agencies for their incredible response overnight and today – NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Health and Transport for NSW.”
For this horrific crash to have occurred on a day that should have been filled with love and happiness only adds to the heartbreak.
— Chris Minns (@ChrisMinnsMP) June 11, 2023
Thank you to every single emergency services worker who has responded to this tragedy and who continue to support this community.
‘Hug your loved ones:’ A community in mourning
Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal said the tragedy would rattle the Hunter community, which is well known as a major wedding and tourist destination.
“It’s something that no one wants to wake up to. My thoughts are obviously with the people involved in the accident but their family and friends as well as the first responders on scene because it must have been truly horrible for them as well,” he told Today.
“We are a major wedding and tourist destination in the Hunter Valley, and so there will be people from all over the state and the country that have been to these areas and have probably done similar things.
“I think it will send shockwaves right through the broader community.”
Maitland MP and NSW Minister for Regional Roads and Transport Jenny Aitchison also shared her thoughts on social media.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones involved in the tragedy in the Hunter overnight,” she shared in a Facebook post.
“Emergency services remain at the scene of a fatal bus crash, where multiple people have died, and more than 10 others were injured overnight.”
The AFL has also issued its condolences to those involved in the crash, offering wellbeing support services to anyone in its community who needs them.
“AFL NSW/ACT is shocked and saddened by the bus tragedy in the Hunter Valley,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“We sent our deepest condolences to all those affected in the accident, including those in the Singleton Roosters family and our Hunter Central Coast community.”
Locals have also begun to share their condolences over the tragic event.
“Thoughts and prayers are with all family and friends, first responders and all connected in anyway with the tragedy at Greta,” Singleton Anglican Church said on Facebook.
“Hug your loved ones tight today,” local Joeanne Dawson said.
“Condolences to all family and friends involved in the bus crash. And to our fantastic emergency services and first responders here in the Hunter Valley; just heartbreaking.”
Road diversions and closures are still in place as emergency services continue to investigate the scene.
All northbound and southbound off-ramps from Hunter Expressway to Wine Country Drive remain closed.
Northbound motorists can use Lovedale Rd to access Wine Country Drive (suitable for all vehicles), and southbound motorists can use New England Highway, Clift St, and Bridge St to access Wine Country Drive.
Heavy vehicles travelling southbound wishing to access Wine Country Drive have been advised to use Hermitage Rd and Broke Rd.
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