Hunter Valley bus crash: 10 dead and driver arrested after wedding ...
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MPs are continuing to take to social media to express condolences to loved ones.
Terribly tragic bus incident in the Hunter Valley overnight. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured, their families and the community. As always, thank you to our first responders who are always there in our time of need.
Tragic news overnight from the Hunter Valley. My heart goes out to all who have lost loved ones. Thank you to the first responders and to those working to care for the injured and to support family and friends. Incredibly sad and distressing for so many.
— Abigail Boyd (@AbigailBoydMLC) June 11, 2023Albanese reminds the public if you’re worried about family or friends, contact Cessnock police station on 02 4991 0199, while those with information have been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The police have asked respectfully that we keep the Cessnock police lines open for the family and friends.
For those who need assistance, Lifeline is as always available on 13 11 14. My government will provide whatever support is necessary to the families as details become clearer. For now, we’re thinking of you, Australia wraps its arms around you and Australians’ hopes and prayers are with you on this tragic day. Thank you.
Albanese offers thanks to first responders who arrived at the “terrible scene”.
I can’t imagine what they were confronted with, what they had to deal with. But they did as they always did - their job. They did their best looking after people, trying to do their best to save lives, and to assist in the recovery at this horrific scene.
So, to them, to the doctors and nurses, to the police and emergency services, to those who transported the injured to hospital, I say once again, thank you.
I say also thank you to those people who will continue to assist in the days, weeks, months and years ahead. The mental scars of this will not go away. They are there forever and we need to make sure that when the spotlight leaves the care doesn’t, for people who have witnessed this and for people who have experienced this tragedy firsthand.
Locals involved in tragedy, PM saysAlbanese spoke to the local member Dan Repacholi and premier Chris Minns this morning, he confirms.
Repacholi, who I spoke with this morning, as well as the premier Chris Minns, he said earlier, and he was right - the Hunter is a tight-knit community and anyone who has been up there knows that is absolutely right.
And he has had confirmed that there are certainly locals involved as well in this tragedy.
Anthony Albanese says people hire buses for weddings “in order to keep their guests safe”:
That just adds to the unimaginable nature of this tragedy.
All Australians’ thoughts go out to the family, friends and loved ones of those we lost in such horrific circumstances. And to all those 25 in hospital … we’re thinking of you and sending our best wishes for a recovery.
Anthony Albanese begins press confereceThe prime minister is speaking now in Canberra.
A screengrab of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese holding a press conference outside Parliament House in Canberra, ACT, Australia following a fatal bus crash in Hunter Valley, NSW. Photograph: ABCAll of us know the joy of going to a wedding, a chance to celebrate dear friends and family. They are some of the happiest times that you can have.
For a joyous day like that in a beautiful place to end with such terrible loss of life and injury is so cruel and so sad and so unfair.
Federal member for Hunter Dan Repacholi has arrived at the site and is liaising with detective inspector Matt Zimmer. As mentioned earlier, he lives just a 15 minute drive away from where the fatal tragedy occurred.
Detective Inspector Matt Zimmer talks with Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi near the scene of a bus crash in the NSW Hunter Valley, Australia. Monday, June 12, 2023. Photograph: Darren Pateman/AAPRepacholi said he had never seen an incident on the section of road where the bus crashed overnight.
He described the crash as devastating and offered his condolences. He said he’d travelled the region’s roads extensively and told Nine:
I don’t know of any issues on this particular section of road at all.
I travel these roads and do thousands of kilometres a week in this area and I’ve never seen an incident on this road.v
Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi near the scene of a bus crash in the NSW Hunter Valley, Australia. Monday, June 12, 2023. Photograph: Darren Pateman/AAPCommunity members are arriving near the scene of the bus crash to lay flowers.
Locals Kim and John Greko told ABC News:
It’s just way too close to home … and a wedding, one of the happiest days of your life turns into one of the most tragic … all we can do is to say we’re thinking of the families.
The couple place the flowers at a roadblock in Huntlee. Photograph: Mark Baker/APThe prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is expected to front the media in about 15 minutes.
NSW premier offers condolences after 'profoundly tragic' eventChris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, has released a statement:
The bus was returning from a wedding at a local winery. Police have confirmed 10 people have died, 11 have been taken to hospital and a further 18 are uninjured.
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.
This is a profoundly tragic event. 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.
He thanks emergency services personnel and agencies for their response overnight and today:
Support is being offered to those impacted by this tragedy. Investigations into the circumstances of the accident have commenced, led by NSW Police.
