Police will give a press conference shortly about Sunday night’s Hunter Valley bus tragedy.
Watch it here:
Hunter Valley bus crash updates: NSW Police continue to identify ...
12 Jun 2023
The Sydney Morning Herald
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7.56am
Police to speak about Hunter Valley bus tragedy7.36am
Seatbelts must be worn, is the driver’s responsibility: MinnsBy Olivia IrelandNSW Premier Chris Minns has said it is the responsibility of a driver to ensure passengers are wearing seatbelts.
Speaking on Nine’s Today program, Minns said it was important he did not comment on the case of the bus driver who is due to face court today, but also said people needed to know what the rules were when driving with passengers.
Chris Minns, pictured yesterday at the scene of the crash.Credit: Nick Moir
“It’s important everybody knows that if there is seatbelts on a bus you are legally required to wear them, that’s the case in NSW, so you need to put them on and it’s obviously the driver’s responsibility to do that,” he said.
“I’m not making a comment about this particular incident, we need to make sure the police have got the time and resources to conduct that inquiry.”
Minns said the priority for today was to make sure those who have lost loved ones are supported in the coming days and weeks, as well as supporting first responders who dealt with the traumatic scene.
“NSW Health is working with the mayor of Singleton, Sue Moore, to set up a community hub if you like, a trauma counselling centre, in the middle of Singleton,” Minns said.
7.01am
Bus driver to face court over fatal wedding bus crashBy Sarah McPhee and Perry DuffinThe wedding bus driver who crashed in the Hunter Valley, killing 10 passengers and injuring dozens more in Australia’s worst road disaster in nearly three decades, will face court this morning after being charged with a string of serious offences.
Police said the horrific end to a picturesque wedding would hang over bus driver Brett Button “for the rest of his life”.
Button, 58, picked up 35 passengers from the wedding of Maddy Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney at Wandin Estate winery in Lovedale late on Sunday. The young couple and many of their guests are residents of the nearby town of Singleton, which has been devastated by the disaster.
NSW Police sources, not authorised to speak publicly, said drug and alcohol tests showed the driver was sober. They were told by passengers Button was allegedly driving erratically in the moments before the crash.
Police took Button to Cessnock station and charged him with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous, and negligent driving occasioning death.
Button remained in custody in Cessnock police station overnight.
Senior police are due to provide and update on the case at 8am today. We’ll bring you coverage of that here.
6.59am
Hunter Valley community devastatedThe tragedy has devastated the tight-knit community of Singleton.
In a town where everyone knows everyone, locals were preparing for the worst yesterday as police worked to confirm the identities of those killed in the accident.
Bernadette Bailey, who has lived in the Hunter Valley her whole life, was among those trying to come to terms with the tragedy.
Bernadette Bailey, who has lived in the Hunter Valley her whole life, said the tragedy would affect the whole community.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
A drop-in mental health clinic will be open in Singleton from this morning as the community comes to terms with the crash.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can also call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
6.58am
Tragedy reaches across state bordersThe bus tragedy has reached across state borders, with many guests having travelled to the Hunter Valley from Victoria to share Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell’s wedding day with them.
Gaffney played at the Warrandyte Cricket Club in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs before moving to the Hunter Valley six years ago. Edsell played netball for the Warrandyte Netball Club from juniors through to seniors.
Parents of Victorians hurt in a crash were flying to NSW yesterday to be with their children.
Mitchell Gaffney, the groom, plays for the Singleton Roosters football club.
6.57am
Hello and welcome to today’s coverageBy Olivia IrelandHello and welcome to our continuing coverage of the horrific Hunter Valley bus tragedy.
Here is what we know so far:
Ten people died and more than 20 were injured after a bus carrying wedding guests crashed at Greta in the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney, about 11.30pm on Sunday.The bus was on its way back to Singleton after the wedding of Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell at Wandin Valley Estate in Lovedale. The coach was travelling on Wine Country Drive when it overturned.Twenty-five passengers were taken to hospitals in the Hunter Valley and Sydney. Fourteen remained in hospital overnight, one in a critical condition. Police said first responders were confronted by a “very traumatic scene” and warned the death toll could rise.Bus driver Brett Andrew Button, 58, has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, and with negligent driving occasioning death. Button, of Maitland, will face Cessnock Local Court today.Premier Chris Minns visited Greta yesterday and described the crash as a “terrible, terrible event in the history of NSW”. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the crash was an unimaginable tragedy that was “so cruel, and so sad, and so unfair”.Police are expected to hold an 8am press conference, which we will bring to you.1 of 1
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