Survivors of a horror bus crash that killed ten wedding guests say the bus driver boasted to those on board just moments before he lost control of the vehicle and tragedy struck.
Flowers now mark the spot where the coach, carrying 35 guests, rolled just 10km into its journey back to the guest’s accommodation at about 11:30pm on Sunday.
The bus driver, Brett Andrew Button, allegedly told his passengers, ‘If you think that was fast… watch this’ just moments before the crash, near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp 12km north at Greta, New South Wales.
Button, a 58-year-old man from Maitland, allegedly made the comments over the vehicle’s internal microphone just moments before he lost control of the coach, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Survivors and close friends are understood to have expressed concern at the speed the bus was travelling and urged others to remain in their seats for safety.
Button is expected to face court on Tuesday, charged with 11 offences, including ten counts of dangerous driving occasioning death — drive manner dangerous, and negligent driving (occasioning death).
Guests had spent the day celebrating the union of Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney at the picturesque Wandin Valley Estate before horror-struck.
Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash at about 11.30pm on Sunday and found 10 bodies in the mangled wreckage alongside 25 guests who were injured, of which one is in a critical condition.
Survivors of a horror bus crash that killed 10 wedding guests have reportedly told police an alleged boast made by the driver just moments before he lost control
Flowers now mark the spot where a coach, carrying 35 guests, rolled just 10km into its journey back to guest’s accommodation at about 11:30pm on Sunday
The 58-year-old bus driver, Brett Andrew Button, has been charged with ten counts with dangerous driving occasioning death
Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney tied the knot at Wandin Valley Estate in the Hunter Valley on Sunday afternoon
Married couple Andrew and Lynan Scott, from Singleton
Singleton mum Nadene McBride (right) and her daughter Kyah (left)
Kyah’s boyfriend, Kane Symons (pictured)
The number of people hospitalised now stands at 21, with one person in a critical condition and eight in a stable condition at John Hunter Hospital.
Five patients are in a stable condition at Maitland Hospital, with a further five patients in a stable condition at Calvary Mater Newcastle.
Two patients are in a stable condition at John Hunter Hospital.
Most of the deceased victims who have been contacted by NSW Police have been publicly identified, however the formal process could take some weeks.
Seven of the dead are understood to be from the nearby town of Singleton.
They include married couple Andrew and Lynan Scott, Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen, and mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride. Kyah’s boyfriend Kane Symons is unaccounted for.
Angus Craig from Queensland and Zachary Bray from Byron Bay are also among those who perished, as is Darcy Bullman from Melbourne.
Married couple Andrew and Lynan Scott, from Singleton, were caught up in the crash. They appear to have two children.
Mrs Scott knew the groom Mr Gaffney through their work together at mining company, Yancoal, as engineers.
She and husband Andrew moved to the area after she completed her mining engineering degree in 2014 and was offered a two-year graduate position.
Tori Cowburn, from Singleton, captained the Singleton Roosters footy team
Byron Bay pilot Zachary Bray died in the crash, his uncle said
Bec Mullen, from Singleton, was Hunter Valley Grammar School captain in 2015
Brisbane man, Angus Craig, was on the bus when it crashed and has not been heard from since
At the time, Mr Scott was working as a lifeguard while studying physiotherapy at the University of Newcastle. Mr Gaffney had transferred from Victoria to Singleton for a new job with Yancoal in 2017.
The McBride family are heavily involved with the Singleton Roosters footy team and Nadene McBride helped found the women’s team.
Mrs McBride, who works for Rio Tinto as a maintenance supervisor, was initially captain of the women’s program before becoming the team’s coach.
She grew up in Leigh Creek, South Australia, and attended Leigh Creek Area School, where she met her husband Graham.
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Graham, better known among friends as ‘Banger’, is believed to be in hospital following the bus crash. Their daughter, Kyah, died in the tragedy.
Kyah’s boyfriend, Kane Symons, was a keen surfer who previously appeared in magazines. He is understood to be unaccounted for.
Tori Cowburn captained the Singleton Roosters footy team and led them to a premiership title in 2020, playing alongside Nadene and Kyah McBride.
Zach Bray’s uncle posted his shock at the death of his nephew in the bus crash.
‘My nephew Zach Bray passed away in last night’s Cessnock bus crash,’ Zach’s uncle Martin Bray said.
‘All my friends and family (are) in shock at the loss of such a beautiful young man.’
Bec Mullen, from Singleton, was Hunter Valley Grammar School captain in 2015.
Daily Mail Australia confirmed on Monday that Brandon Stafford, a groomsmen who had travelled from Victoria for the wedding, was among the injured.
The 35 passengers had attended the wedding of Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney at the Wandin Valley Estate just 12km away from the crash site
Investigators remained on the scene of the horror crash on Monday
The bus spent the majority of Monday on its side as police conducted investigations, before it was returned to an upright position with the help of a tow truck
Their emcee, local reporter Alex Tigani, is recovering at John Hunter Hospital.
He revealed the crash was like ‘a war scene’ and that he was covered in ‘other people’s blood’ after it rolled.
A family of three that comprise an older couple and their adult son, is also being treated for injuries in John Hunter Hospital and are all expected to survive.
The bus spent the majority of Monday on its side as police conducted investigations, before it was returned to an upright position with the help of a tow truck.
Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said the bus crashed in the first 10 minutes of a 35-minute journey to the guests accommodation in Singleton.
One man displayed his Singleton Roosters jersey at the front of his home in tribute to the victims of the bus crash (pictured)
‘It’s a tragic set of circumstances. The number of family members, but broader community, who will be impacted by this, you couldn’t count,’ she said.
The Wandin Valley Estate posted a sign on their front gate saying it will be shut ‘out of respect’ for those killed or injured during the tragedy.
As a tribute to the victims, lights at the city’s Vivid Festival were turned off on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the Museum of Contemporary Art on Monday night.
The Singleton community has also paid their respects to those lost in the crash, with Newcastle’s Christchurch Cathedral running a special service.
The Anglican Church opened in Singleton, Branxton and Cessnock to give locals a space to grieve the loss of 10 community members.
Newcastle Bishop Peter Stuart said he wanted people to know they’re not alone and have people praying for them.
‘We don’t expect people to go to anything and not come home alive, so our hearts are breaking at this impact,’ he told the ABC.
The couple whose wedding the bus passengers had attended on Sunday both played for local club, the Singleton Roosters, with some guests also players.
The Terrigal-Avoca Panthers said the club was shocked by the news of the tragic bus crash.
‘Our club is shocked by the tragic news of last night’s bus crash that involved Singleton Roosters AFC players,’ it said.
‘Our deepest sympathies go out to family and friends who have lost loved ones.’
One man displayed his Singleton Roosters jersey at the front of his home in tribute to the bus crash victims.
‘In support of the horrific events of this mornings bus crash involving so many of their club people, I am going to as a show of support for them,’ he wrote online.
‘Not only AFL clubs but all sporting clubs are such an outlet for people to feel like they belong and are part of a community.
‘If you are part of any sporting club, I encourage you to do the same to show a sense of community and support to these people through an incredibly difficult time.’
Hunter New England Health has set up a clinic at the Singleton Youth Venue to support community members with mental health services.
