Police will today allege in court the 58-year-old driver of the bus which crashed in the Hunter Valley, killing 10 people, was driving “too quick” as he entered a roundabout, rolling the coach.
Acting Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said Brett Andrew Button, from Maitland, was facing a range of “very serious” charges relating to the tragic deaths of guests who had spent that day celebrating a wedding.
“He entered that roundabout driving in a manner that was inconsistent with the conditions,” Waddell said.
“Obviously, the speed was too quick for him to negotiate that roundabout, causing the vehicle to fall onto its left side and cause those injuries.”
Police had investigated the bus at the scene, leaving many officers “visibly distraught”, Waddell said.
The bus was removed from the roundabout last night and investigators will examine the vehicle further today.
Button is facing 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death.
Waddell this morning detailed in broad strokes what police believe had happened.
About 11:30pm on Sunday night, Button had been driving the large white bus in a southerly direction on Wine Country Drive, he said.
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There were 37 passengers on board, ranging in age from people in their 20s to 60s.
As the bus entered a roundabout, to turn west onto the Hunter Expressway, Button lost control of the bus and it rolled onto its left side, onto a guardrail, Waddell said.
Nine people died at the crash site, and one died later in hospital.
Twenty-five people were rushed to hospital with a range of injuries. There are still 14 people in hospital, two in intensive care.
Waddell described the ICU patients as “critical but stable”.
Police have interviewed some of the surviving passengers, he said.
Button spent the night in custody and is scheduled to appear before Cessnock Local Court this morning.
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