Hunter Valley bus driver’s alleged boast before crash that claimed 10 lives

Police have revealed what allegedly caused a bus packed with wedding guests to lose control and flip on its side, leaving ten dead and dozens injured.

An aerial view of the scene. Picture: Christian Gilles/NCA NewsWire

New details from inside the bus involved in the devastating crash in the Hunter Valley have been revealed as driver Brett Andrew Button faces 11 charges over the tragedy.

The crash, which resulted in the loss of 10 lives, is the deadliest on Australian roads in more than 30 years.

On Monday night The Daily Telegraph reported an allegation from witnesses that Mr Button, 58, boasted to those on board the bus before the accident occurred just after 11.30pm on Sunday.

According to the newspaper, some of the survivors who have spoken to police allege Mr Button addressed his passengers through the vehicle’s internal microphone moments before he lost control and said, “If you think that was fast … watch this.”

The bus then overturned at a roundabout on Wine Country Drive, near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp in Greta.

‘Speed was too quick’

NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner David Waddell alleged the bus driver was travelling too fast.

“He entered that roundabout driving in a manner that was inconsistent with the conditions,” he alleged to reporters on Tuesday morning.

“Obviously the speed was too quick for him to negotiate that roundabout, causing the vehicle to fall onto its left side and cause those injuries.”

Emergency services, including ambulance services, NSW Fire and Rescue, the NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW Police and Highway Patrol rushed to the site.

Mr Waddell said it was a “very chaotic scene” and “some of our police are visibly distraught”.

“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 passengers range from 20s to 60s, males and females, local and interstate as you’d expect.”

Survivors and close friends said multiple passengers had expressed concern about the speed of the bus throughout the trip, and had urged others to return to their seats for safety.

On Monday, Mr Button was officially charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, as well as one count of negligent driving.

He faced Cessnock Local Court on Tuesday morning where he was granted bail.

Andrew and Lynan Scott were among the 10 dead. Picture: Facebook

First victims identified

Most of the deceased victims whose families have been notified by NSW Police have now been publicly identified, 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, all from Singleton.

“I see there’s some speculation about the identity of those 10 persons — we cannot confirm the identity of those 10 victims,” Mr Waddell said on Tuesday.

“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.”

Police Commissioner Karen Webb on Monday 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.

Rebecca Mullen was also killed. Picture: Facebook

‘Devastating’ crash rocks nation

The crash has sent shockwaves around the nation, with both the Prime Minister and NSW Premier Chris Minns offering condolences.

Addressing the media on Monday, Mr 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.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Waddell said 14 people were still in hospital including nine at John Hunter Hospital — two of whom were in ICU — one at Calvary Mater Newcastle, and two at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

Tori Cowburn of Singleton. Picture: Facebook

Community faces ‘long haul’

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said it was a “horrendous set of circumstances” that the local community would be dealing with long after the “lights and sirens and cameras go”.

“That’s why I want to make sure the mental health support is provided within the community for as long as we need it there,” he told Seven’s Sunrise on Tuesday.

“We are here for the long haul as this community attempts to rebuild.”

Mr Park said the injured were “going well as can be expected” and NSW hospitals were coping “very well, given the circumstances”.

“But our frontline clinicians, what they experienced at the scene was horrendous,” he said.

“I spoke to a paramedic last night and he said it’s the most devastating scene he’s been to in 15 years on the job. I don’t think any of us can imagine what that scene would be like or what those experiences for the frontline paramedics are.”

Mr Park said for the emergency workers it was a “horrific scene and one that I know they will never forget, but the way in which they carried out their task, I’m very proud of them as their Minister and I know the community would be very proud of them as well”.

“The community will need support and so too our frontline workers and we want them to get that support so they can debrief, discuss and comprehend what they’ve been involved in,” he said.

Bus company ‘saddened’

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.”

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.

Originally published as Hunter Valley bus driver’s alleged boast before crash that claimed 10 lives