A bus driver charged over a fatal crash that killed ten passengers returning from a wedding will face court on Tuesday, as horror details emerge from the accident.
Brett Andrew Button, 58, was late Monday charged with ten counts of dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous, and negligent driving (occasioning death).
The bus, a 2009 Volvo B7R, was returning 35 guests from the wedding reception of newlyweds Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney in the picturesque NSW Hunter Valley.
The accident happened about 12km from the Wandin Estate Winery wedding venue at Lovedale as the bus drove to Singleton about 11.30pm on Sunday.
Media are reporting that some passengers allegedly voiced concern about the speed at which the bus was travelling, moments before it rolled on a roundabout.
A report in The Daily Telegraph states the driver allegedly said through the intercom: “If you think that was fast … watch this” before losing control near the Hunter Expressway off ramp at Greta.
Ten people were confirmed dead in Australia’s worst road accident since 1994, with 25 others taken to hospital with varying injuries – including one person who remains in a critical condition.
Some of the injured have since been released from hospital.
The driver was taken to hospital under police guard for mandatory testing and assessment.
He was later transferred to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged and refused bail.
Identifying the victims
Police have begun the grisly task of removing and formally identifying bodies trapped under the bus.
Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Tracy Chapman earlier described a frantic scene for those who arrived.
“Emergency responders … were able to smash the front windscreen of the bus in order to pull some people out,” Ms Chapman said.
The newlywed couple Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell, were reportedly involved with local AFL club the Singleton Roosters.
The Warrandyte Cricket Club in Victoria, where Mr Gaffney is understood to have lived until 2017, said a number of its members were involved in the crash.
Some passengers whose families have been contacted by police, and told that formal identification could take days or weeks, have been named by News Corp media outlets.
They include husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, from Singleton and mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride, also from Singleton.
Mrs McBride’s husband Graham was reportedly injured and Kyah’s boyfriend Kane Symons was unaccounted for.
Other passengers were Zachary Bray from Byron Bay, Angus Craig from Queensland, Darcy Bulman from Melbourne and Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen from Singleton.
The Sydney Women’s AFL Masters wrote on Facebook that it was “shocked and saddened by the tragic news” about Nadene (Nads) McBride and her daughter Kyah.
“Our thoughts and sympathy extend to all the friends, families and team mates of Nads and Kyah and the Singleton football community. Please reach out to each other for support.”
Police have begun taking witness statements from survivors.
“They’re providing a version of, or witness statement in terms of what they experienced and that will assist us with our inquiries and furthering that investigation,” Ms Chapman said.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the use of seatbelts would undoubtedly be one of the matters looked at by the coroner.
“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.”
Complex investigation
On Monday afternoon, the bus was returned to the upright position in a ‘delicate’ operation at the site of the crash.
Police said emergency services were called to the roundabout on Wine Country Drive, near the Hunter Expressway off ramp, at Greta about 11.30pm on Sunday, after reports a coach had rolled.
Investigations are continuing at the scene, which is being examined by specialist forensic police and officers from the Crash Investigation Unit.
The large-scale emergency response involved officers from Hunter Valley Police District, Police Rescue, Traffic and Highway Patrol, NSW Ambulance paramedics, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Rural Fire Service, and various helicopters for hospital transports.