Hunter Valley bus crash: Multiple people killed in wedding bus tragedy

As many as 10 people have died when a wedding bus crashed off the road in the Hunter Valley late on Sunday night, police say.

Emergency services were working overnight at the scene of the fatal crash on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway off ramp at Greta.

Initial inquiries indicated 10 people had died, police said in a statement, with 11 people taken to hospital via helicopter and road. A further 18 passengers escaped uninjured.

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Emergency services were called to the scene just after 11.30pm after reports that a coach had rolled, police said.

A large-scale emergency operation was under way with Wine Country Drive closed in both directions between the New England Highway and the Bridge Street roundabout at Huntlee.

The driver of the bus – a 58-year-old man – was taken to hospital under police guard for mandatory testing and assessment.

A crime scene has been established, which will be examined by specialist forensic police and the Crash Investigation Unit on Monday.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said family liaison officers will be assigned to the families of those who died in the crash overnight.

“I urge people to contact Crime Stoppers rather than Cessnock police station in order to leave those lines open for friends and family,” she said.

“We have family liaison officers who will be assigned to families to work with them and ensure that they have the support and welfare around them that they need.”

She said the bodies of the deceased were still at the scene of the crash and the bus was still on its side.

A 58-year-old bus driver has been arrested and is expected to be charged over a crash that killed 10 wedding guests in the Hunter Valley, police say.

“He’s under arrest, he’s been the driver of a motor vehicle collision where there have been fatalities,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman hold a press conference on Monday morning after 10 wedding guests were killed in a bus crash.Credit: Nick Moir

“There’s sufficient information for us to establish that there will be charges.”

She said 10 people were confirmed dead and 25 others had been taken to hospital.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has extended his condolences to the victims of the bus tragedy.

“All Australians waking up to tragic news from the Hunter send our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of those killed in this horrific bus tragedy,” he wrote on Twitter.

“For a day of joy to end in such devastating loss is cruel indeed. Our thoughts are also with those who have been injured.”

NSW Police will address the media at 8.45am this morning about the bus crash.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Brett Greentree and Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman are both expected to speak.

We will bring the press conference to you live when it happens.

Premier Chris Minns is expected to visit the site of the bus crash later today.

The state MP for Cessnock, Clayton Barr, was in shock on Monday after waking to a deadly bus crash he said would “stay with us in this community for a long, long time”.

Barr, whose electorate takes in the Hunter Valley wine country where at least 10 people have died after a bus crash overnight, said he’s “never experienced anything of this magnitude in my lifetime”.

“Where Greta is located it’s sort of in a triangle between Maitland, Cessnock and Singleton so emergency services are thin on the ground.

It was all hands on deck overnight with all the emergency workers,” he said.

“At some stage they are going to go home and put their heads on a pillow and have everything they’ve seen, everything they’ve had to do, still with them. And they are part of our community so the tragedy stays with all of us.”

Barr said he heard helicopters going over his home late on Sunday night, something that was “never a good sign”.

He was woken early on Monday morning and learned of the scale of the tragedy.

“It’s one of the worst bus tragedies we’ve seen in this state for decades and certainly in my living memory,” he said.

“Weddings are a massive part of the economy in the Hunter and there could be a dozen or more weddings on any given weekend.

“We don’t have the details yet on whether these were locals or tourists visiting but it touches us either way.

“If they were locals the tragedy stays with us for a long time. If they were visitors they take it home with them. I think everyone can sympathise with what a tragedy this is.”

NSW Ambulance chief superintendent Paula Sinclair spoke to the media following the crash and said it would be a difficult day for those first responders.

“Whilst they’re paramedics every day of their lives, something like this is not a job that they go to every day,” she said.

“So I’m incredibly proud of the paramedics that attended; they did a fantastic job under the circumstances.“

Channel 7 news reported that conditions at the scene of the crash in the Hunter Valley was so foggy is meant some helicopters were unable to land in the area.

Photos from the crash site reveal how emergency services responded to the unfolding serious emergency.

Here is a gallery of the images of the scene which have emerged so far, including of the wedding venue Wandin Estate Winery.

The wedding guests were at Wandin Estate before the bus crash later at night.

Based in Lovedale, the winery’s website claims it was one of the Hunter Valley’s most renowned vineyards.

“Just like our handcrafted wines, creating a perfect wedding is all about the detail, and it’s in our DNA,” the website said.

“Your special day at Wandin will be the perfect blend of Hunter beauty, fragrant settings, seasonal local cuisine, the finest wines and all the intricate and intimate details that can only be found when hosting a wedding at our unrivalled Lovedale estate.

“From wine, food and accommodation, your special day will be carefully curated by us down to every detail.”