Victorian woman named as 10th victims in Hunter Valley wedding bus tragedy which left 10 dead, 25 injured
The 10th victim of the horrifying Hunter Valley wedding bus crash that claimed 10 guests' lives has been identified.
A Victorian woman has been identified as the last victim of the devastating Hunter Valley wedding bus crash that left 10 dead and 25 hospitalised.
Darcy Bulman, who attended the celebration with her partner Nick Dinakis, remains unaccounted for after leaving Wandin Valley Estate before the tragedy occurred.
The former La Trobe student aspired to work in one of the big four accounting firms, with her neighbour Phil, remembering her for always having “a smile on her face”.
“She was a really great girl, a really great human being,” he told the Herald Sun.
“She was just a really kind-hearted person, she just had a good heart.”
Nine other victims have also been named after a coach carrying dozens of guests who had earlier attended the nuptials of local football star Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell at the iconic Wandin Valley Estate rolled over while en route to nearby Singleton, on Sunday night.
The incident occurred in fog just after 11.30pm, around 17 minutes into the journey, at a roundabout at Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway off ramp at Greta in the wine region, which is a major tourism and wedding destination.
Emergency services, including ambulance, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Rural Fire Service, police and Highway Patrol rushed to the site, and were met with horrifying scenes.
On Monday night, The Daily Telegraph identified most of the deceased victims, whose families have been notified by NSW Police, though the formal identification process could potentially take weeks.
Those victims are: Andrew and Lynan Scott, a husband and wife from Singleton; Zachary Bray from Byron Bay; Angus Craig from Queensland; Darcy Bulman from Sydney and Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen from Singleton.
Kane Symons also remains unaccounted for.
“I see there’s some speculation about the identity of those 10 persons — we cannot confirm the identity of those 10 victims,” NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner David Waddell told reporters on Tuesday morning.
“We’ll work through the disaster victim identification process over the next few days. Our investigators, our family liaison officers, are speaking to the families and victims. We are in contact. That process will continue throughout the investigation and the court process.”
Mr Waddell said passengers on the bus were aged from their “20s to 60s, males and females, local and interstate as you’d expect”.
“It’s a traumatic event for all the family, all the friends, from what was a wedding where people come from wide and far,” he said.
The married couple’s MC Alex Tignani was among the injured and received treatment at John Hunter Hospital, as did members of Mr Gaffney’s AFL club.
Nine injured guests were also members of Victoria’s Warrandyte Cricket Club, with president Royce Jaksic telling Nine newspapers they had sustained “some minor injuries – a broken jaw, a broken collarbone, things like that”.
It is the seventh-deadliest road accident in Australia’s history, and the worst since 1994.
Driver charged
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.
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.
Tragedy ‘may be worse’
Addressing the media on Monday, NSW Premier Chris Minns warned that news might get worse in the hours ahead.
“The state woke up this morning to hear devastating news in an area that we normally associate with so much happiness and joy,” he said.
“Whatever the final toll is in this accident, it will be more than we can bear.
“The next few days and weeks may be worse than the initial shock, as it fully comes to realisation of what this community has gone through.”
While 25 people were originally hospitalised, on Monday the Premier’s office confirmed that number had been reduced to 21, with one patient in a critical condition and eight in a stable condition at John Hunter Hospital.
Five patients are in a stable condition at Maitland Hospital, a further five patients are in a stable condition at Calvary Mater Newcastle, and two patients are in a stable condition at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Bus company releases statement
The bus company at the centre of the tragedy has been identified as Linq Buslines, with the vehicle in question a 2009 Volvo B7R with 57 seats, including seatbelts.
“We are incredibly saddened to learn of the bus crash that has occurred overnight,” the company said in a statement.
“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.”
Venue closed in mourning
Wandin Valley Estate, which is closed today out of respect for the victims, has also released a statement.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the bus crash overnight that has claimed the lives of some of our guests,” the statement reads.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the victims, and 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.”
Police still contacting next of kin
Police are still working to identify the crash victims and contact their next of kin.
Family and friends of anyone who may have been on board the bus are urged to contact Cessnock Police Station on 02 4991 0199.
Witnesses – or anyone with information relevant to the circumstances surrounding the crash – are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to keep the line to Cessnock Police Station clear for concerned family members.
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