Goodnight from us
We’ll be wrapping up the live blog for the day now. Thanks for staying with us on what was a devastating day of news out of the Hunter Valley. The blog will be back tomorrow morning. Goodnight and stay safe
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Driver charged over fatal bus crash in Hunter Valley
The driver of a bus that crashed in the Hunter Valley killing 10 people has now been charged.
NSW Police say the 58-year-old man has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, driving in a dangerous manner and negligent driving (occasioning death).
The Maitland man was refused bail and will appear at Cessnock local court on Tuesday morning.
Acting assistant commissioner David Waddell will hold a press conference outside the Cessnock police station on Tuesday morning at 8am.
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Here is a shot from the latest press conference by Guardian Australia’s photographer-at-large Mike Bowers, who has been on the ground in the Hunter with Natasha May this afternoon.
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Chapman: police in the process of removing bodies from the wreckage
Tracy Chapman says investigators also believe they have “an understanding” of those unaccounted for and are currently speaking to family members to identify all those involved.
Chapman says that it is “her understanding” there were 36 people on the bus, including the driver. Ten people were killed in the accident, another 25 were transported to hospital. Some have since been released.
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Chapman says bus has now been righted in ‘delicate’ operation
Acting assistant police commissioner Tracy Chapman says the bus has now been righted in a “delicate” operation, as there were still victims’ bodies in the bus.
She also provided more information about what occurred during the accident.
As you can imagine it was a fairly frantic scene. A number of passengers were able to be extracted through the front windscreen of the bus – and then to deal with those in terms of that triage process with New South Wales ambulance.
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Webb: driver ‘taken for mandatory testing’ for alcohol
Karen Webb says that one of the issues to be determined is whether all the passengers onboard the bus were waiting seatbelts at the time of the accident.
Webb also said the driver had been “taken for mandatory testing” to determine whether alcohol was a factor but the results are not yet known.
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Commissioner Karen Webb: working out what happened ‘is going to take time’
Karen Webb:
The most complex part of this job ahead for police now is actually accounting for the victims and passengers on the bus. You can imagine the scene that was confronting police when they attended and that many of those people were treated [and] some people were transported to different locations and then re-diverted.
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Catley says the officers and first responders who have been involved in the investigation and the response will receive additional support.
There will be wrap-around services for you as well but we will make sure that you get that.
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Police minister expresses sympathy for families and victims of Hunter bus crash
Yasmin Catley:
It’s unfathomable that we are here today on the end of our long weekend. And I can’t express deeply enough how saddened I feel for the families, for the community, for the first responders, for everybody involved. I mean, none of us want to be here during this, today. It is clearly just shocked. What has occurred is unnecessary.
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Commissioner says police ‘still in charging process’
Karen Webb says police are still “in the charging process” but is otherwise unable to say what the charges are.
As soon as we have that information we will share with you.
Webb says that the site is “still an active crime scene” that is currently being investigated.
I would also like this opportunity to praise all of the police officers and support staff that have been working on this scene around the clock, not just at the scene but also at the hospitals.
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Hunter MP Dan Repacholi: ‘it’s devastating’
Repacholi, the federal member for the Hunter, was at the site of the crash on Monday afternoon. He said the entire community has been devastated since waking up to the news.
You don’t expect to hear this anywhere in Australia, let alone here in the Hunter Valley, which is the one of the most picturesque places in the world.
And then to have this happen and wake up to 10 deaths and lots of people in hospital, like it’s just something that you don’t you don’t ever think of will happen here.
It’s devastating for the families and the loved ones and everyone, friends are all involved, and these people that have passed away.
Everyone who has been in the Hunter at some stage has been on the bus, because that’s what we do here. We have buses so that people can go to these venues and have good days out and do good tastings and things like that in the area.
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Bus crash press conference to come …
It is understood acting assistant police commissioner Tracy Chapman will be speaking at a press conference at 3pm. It will be the second for the day.
We will bring you the latest as it happens.
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Locals lay floral tributes at crash site: ‘There’s so many people sending their condolences’
Odessa Sarnelli and Georgia Bainbridge each laid a bouquet of pink and cream flowers on Monday afternoon at the roundabout where the fatal crash occurred.
Bainbridge, a Branxton local, said she was up late last night watching a movie when she heard “all the sirens and all the commotion going on.”
But then it wasn’t until she woke up in the morning that she found out what had been their cause.
It was really sad just to see what happened, especially on such an amazing day for such an amazing couple, this tragedy.
Sarnelli, from Singleton, said she hopes the bride, the groom and the family are doing OK, as well as that the people in hospital make it out OK.
It’s just very scary to know that like, people from your community, this is what’s happened.
It’ll definitely be talked about a lot. I think a lot of us will sit there and commemorate these people.
We just have to be with everyone in the community and hold hands and make sure we’re all keeping each other safe during this time.
Bainbridge said although the community still didn’t know exactly who has been injured, everyone in the local community has been taking to social media to express their support amid the tragedy.
There’s so many people sending their condolences out, even when we don’t know who was involved in the accident, who’s hurt, who’s not, but so many people are already reaching out to everyone sending their love, sending condolences.
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Transport for NSW secretary Howard Collins releases statement on bus crash
Everyone at Transport for NSW offers their deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of those who have lost their lives or been injured in the tragic bus crash in the Hunter Valley overnight.
We also extend our sympathies to everyone dealing with this tragedy, and thank the frontline emergency services, medical teams - both onsite and in hospitals - and our own staff who are on location assisting with operations.
Transport for NSW continues to support emergency services at the scene with Traffic Commanders and other staff on site.
We will be providing specialist trauma support to our staff and assisting transport operators as required during this difficult time.
Transport for NSW advises everyone travelling today to avoid the area as investigations will continue for some time. Information on road closures will be available at livetraffic.com
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Eight players from Warrandyte Cricket Club in Melbourne and five partners attended wedding
The groom, Mitchell Gaffney, previously played for the club when he lived in Victoria, prior to moving north. Club president Royce Jaksic said members of the club were in shock. He said some of those associated with the club were among the injured, though not among those with life-threatening injuries.
Jaksic said his thoughts were with the families of those people who had lost their lives.
The information is still extremely sketchy. We are very hopeful and quite confident that none of our players and their partners have lost their lives. We probably had 13 or 14 people on the bus out of 37, for that to be the case is just a blessing. Someone was looking after them.
Jaksic was not president when Gaffney was at the club. But he said it was clear his family were “certainly well-loved in the community”.
They’ve been stalwarts in the community for a long period of time. Just goes to show that, five or six years later, we’ve got a heap of guys going up to the Hunter Valley to celebrate his wedding. So well respected, well-loved young man.
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Celebrant posted prior to accident about marriage of ‘beautiful people’
The Hunter Valley celebrant who married the bride and groom prior to the tragic events of last night posted about the event on social media yesterday afternoon.
She said they were “beautiful people” and was touched to see the bride drive to the ceremony in an authentic Volkswagen beetle, restored by her father.
Today I had Maddy and Mitch get married out at Wandin. It was a beautiful ceremony ... I saw them for their first look ... Maddy rocked up to the ceremony in a restored 1957 Volkswagen beetle convertible.
It was so cool. [Her Dad] had been holding onto it for 42 years and finally got it ready for Madeleine’s wedding. They started the car up at the accommodation and drove it ... in through Wandin gates and down the grass onto the ceremony ... it was so cool to see her rock up in this bug.
The ceremony was held on the grass outside at the pontoon. Following the event, the couple drove back to the pavilion in the Volkswagen.
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A roadblock has been set up near Branxton to control traffic around the site of the Hunter Valley bus crash.
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Hunter Valley bus crash may be deadliest in Australia since 1994
Details are still emerging as authorities comb the wreckage of the Hunter Valley bus crash, but it may mark the most deadly bus crash in Australia since 1994.
A bus carrying 50 passengers rolled on the Gateway Motorway at Boondall in Queensland on 24 October 1994. Twelve people died in the accident which took place at 10.20am in the morning.
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Bus operator Linq issues statement on coach crash
The operator of the bus, Linq, has issued a statement saying it was “incredibly saddened” to learn of the crash and said trauma counselling has been made available to its staff and families.
The full statement reads:
We are incredibly saddened to learn of the bus crash that has occurred overnight. Our hearts are with everyone involved in this terrible tragedy and we send our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones.
We would like to thank the first responders to the scene, the emergency personnel and those who are continuing to assist.
Trauma counselling services have been made available to all staff and their families at Linq Buslines. We are working with NSW police and authorities as they investigate.
It would be inappropriate for us to comment further while the investigation is underway.
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Wandin Valley Estate closed today out of respect
Beyond the sandstone pillar gates of Wandin Valley Estate, the sun is shining on the lake which sprawls out behind the wedding pontoon.
But those gates are closed this morning, with a laminated sign hinting at the tragedy which unfolded for the guests which left its venue after yesterday’s celebrations:
Out of respect Wandin Valley Estate will be closed today
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The tight-knit Hunter Valley community is reeling from last night’s events, with locals confirmed to have been caught up in the crash.
A wedding videographer has posted on social media, recalling filming many weddings at Wandin Estate where guests were celebrating prior to boarding the bus that was to take them to Singleton.
Having filmed so many weddings at Wandin Estate ... they always have been full of fun and laughter right to very end.
I cannot but feel the sadness that must be surrounding this young couple on their wedding day. I must say, that the amount of wedding vendor friends I have heard from this morning is something new. It certainly appears that this tragedy has certainly hit home to the wedding industry.
A local couple drove past the outdoor wedding yesterday afternoon, and commented on how “gorgeous the light was for them”.
I’m sobered to think that we drove past many people who were in the final hours of their lives.
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Wadin Estates releases statement following bus crash
Wadin Estates, the venue which hosted the wedding party just before the disastrous bus accident in the Hunter Valley, has released a statement on the incident through Instagram.
We are deeply saddened to hear of the bus crash overnight that has claimed the lives of some of our guests. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the victims, and we are supporting them in any way we can. At this time, we are providing support to those guests who need our help, and we wish to maintain their privacy and won’t be making any further statements at this time.
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A few photos from the presser:
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Chris Minns: 21 patients in hospital, one in critical condition
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has given an update on the current status of those in hospital and the current numbers while on the ground in the Hunter Valley.
New South Wales Health reports as of 10am this morning, there’s 21 patients being treated across four hospitals in New South Wales.
Minns reports:
One patient is in a critical condition
eight patients are in a stable condition at John Hunter Hospital
five patients in a stable condition at Maitland Hospital
five patients are in a stable condition at Calvary matter Newcastle
two patients are in a stable condition in the RPA in Sydney.
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Tracy Chapman says a number of people involved with the crash “were able to free themselves and walk to get help and aid”. And that’s it.
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Injured people are giving statements, police say
Tracy Chapman says there have been a “number of victims”:
Those who have been taken to hospital and are being treated and cared for – we’re able to identify those and speak with some of those as well. In terms of those who are deceased, we certainly have a list of people who we’re still trying to account for and working through that.
Of those who have been taken to hospital, 21 people are now being treated in hospital.
Chapman says “some witness statements” have been taken from those in hospital.
She says she won’t comment on whether passengers were wearing seatbelts.
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Assistant police commissioner says charges have not been laid at this stage
Tracy Chapman says the site of the accident is being preserved “in situ” while officers investigate what happened.
The driver is “still in custody” at Cessnock police station and is “assisting with inquiries”:
At this stage no charges have been laid.
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Acting assistant police commissioner Tracy Chapman says the Cessnock police station’s phone line is for family and friends of loved ones involved in the accident. She asks people not to call the police station so it can be “quarantined” for that purpose.
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Chris Minns explicitly thanks emergency services who “have no idea what they’ll confront before that alarm goes off”:
It could be a life-changing event. That’s what happened this morning in New South Wales, on a Sunday night, on what was meant to be a joyous occasion, to see New South Wales police and firefighters and paramedics attend the scene is very trauma – be traumatic for them as well.
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Chris Minns says he can’t offer specific updates on the condition of the bride and groom but says “the community up here in Singleton and Cessnock have been rocked by this”:
There will be many days of healing and trauma the families go through in the coming days. The sympathies from everyone here, from the local community, and I think across New South Wales, will be with them, a day that was meant to be a joyous one, where family and friends could come together to celebrate something really special has ended in unimaginable despair. I think everyone in this state has just been truly horrified by this morning’s events.
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Sue Moore says the accident has hit the close-knit community hard:
People attending a wedding and then on their way home from the wedding – so tragic.
There’s close-knit communities of Singleton and Cessnock, people will be infected quite widely. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, first responders, everyone who has been affected by this.
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Jay Suuval says “this is truly a horrific day for our community” and that “it was something that no one wanted to wake up to”:
My thoughts and I’m sure the thoughts of our community are with everyone that was involved in this accident. Their friends, their loved ones, their family. And we – we just want to make sure they’re cared for and have the support now, and also thank our emergency services, the first responders, and the people in the health system who are currently working to look after the people that have been injured in this accident.
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'More than we can bear': NSW premier speaks at accident site
Premier Chris Minns is speaking from the site of the Hunter Valley bus accident now, telling that “whatever the final toll is … it will be more than we can bear”:
With so much happiness and joy, came together to experience a day of joy and instead have been met with undeniable despair, it’s truly shocking to the people of New South Wales.
Minns said he has spoken with the prime minister and local mayors, Sue Moore and Jay Suvaal:
The next few days and weeks may be worse than the initial shock, as it fully comes to realisation of what this community has gone through. Clearly we’ve been dealt a terrible, terrible accident in New South Wales this morning.
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Residents express shock
Locals who have woken to news of the bus crash in Greta have taken to social media to express their shock.
One said she had a “broken heart this morning” and that the winery was a few hundred metres up her road:
I’ve woken to news of a horrific bus crash in the Hunter Valley about 10 minutes away from me ... so very sad.
Another recalled using the roundabout where the crash occurred every Saturday to visit their father in aged care:
Please drive safely.
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NSW premier Chris Minns has arrived in the Hunter Valley, where he has spoken to MPs and other local leaders. He is receiving a briefing from police before a press conference expected at 12.30pm AEST. We will bring you the latest as it happens.
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Six police vehicles line the street outside Cessnock police station
Three crash investigation unit vehicles are outside Cessnock police station on this bright winter morning, alongside three other regular police vehicles.
This is the station where the 58-year-old driver is being held under arrest, as NSW police’s Tracy Chapman confirmed in the press conference this morning.
It’s the same station the friends and family of anyone who may have been on the bus have been told to contact.
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Bus company involved in accident named
The bus that crashed was owned by Linq, a company that operates group charter services for weddings in the region.
The company has 30 years’ experience in the industry.
Linq says on its website that its fleet is fully equipped with seatbelts.
It operates 57-seat, 34-seat and 23-seat buses.
The company’s website says:
Whether you’re going for a day trip to the vineyards, or you’re organising transportation for your wedding guests to the ceremony and reception, we will make sure to provide a quality, luxury coach for hire in Central Coast, Newcastle and Hunter Valley, fit with air conditioning and reclining seats.
Guardian Australia has approached Linq for comment but has not yet received a response.
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The first photos of the bus involved in the crash in the Hunter Valley are coming through.
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Update on road closures
There are a number of road closures after the crash, with police expecting investigations will take some time.
At Greta, Wine Country Drive between New England Highway and Bridge Street is closed. The northbound and southbound offramps from Hunter Expressway to Wine Country Drive are also closed.
You can get the latest updates here.
The state minister for regional transport and roads, Jenny Aitchison, posted:
Emergency services are on scene and there are road closures and diversions in place so please avoid the area.
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One of injured in a critical condition
We have an update on the state of 21 patients being treated across four hospitals in New South Wales.
One is in a critical condition at John Hunter hospital in Newcastle.
A further eight are in stable conditions at the hospital, five are stable at Maitland hospital, five are stable at Calvary Mater in Newcastle and two are in a stable condition at the Royal Prince Alfred hospital in Sydney.
Police said 25 people were taken to hospital after the crash, so it is likely four have been discharged but we are seeking to confirm this now.
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When NSW Police gave a press conference earlier this morning, the bus was still on its side in the roundabout where it crashed.
As you can see in this aerial shot, there are many emergency services on the scene working around the clock.
This is a distressing story. As the prime minister told Australians earlier, for those who need assistance, Lifeline is as always available on 13 11 14.
Take care of yourselves today.
Our NSW correspondent Tamsin Rose has informed me that the premier, Chris Minns, is heading to the Hunter Valley now. He’s expected to hold a press conference about 1pm.
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‘There’ll be a lot of lives shattered out of this’
Nationals leader David Littleproud appeared on Sky News earlier. He said the crash demonstrated “the fragility of life”:
There’s no words or comfort myself, the prime minister or anybody can give families today. This is pure grief that they will have to endure. But they should know that this country will wrap its arms around and know that that pain is one that’s shared.
Littleproud said small communities in the Hunter Valley were connected “from the wineries right through to the bus companies themselves”:
You’ve got to understand, there’ll be a lot of lives shattered out of this … small country towns, small regional communities, bear the brunt of this because invariably there is that emotional connection of knowing somebody.
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‘Lives changed forever’
Federal member for Riverina and former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack has posted on social media:
Lives lost, lives changed forever for those left to mourn.
Simply awful news with so many lives taken in the Hunter bus tragedy. Dreadful situation after the joy of a wedding. Lives lost, lives changed forever for those left to mourn. Thoughts also for first responders on this scene of devastation.
— Michael McCormack (@M_McCormackMP) June 12, 2023
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‘Deeply saddened’
Yasmin Catley, MP for Swansea, says she is “deeply saddened” by the news. Swansea is about an hour’s drive south from Greta, the small town where the crash occurred:
I know that our Hunter community will be shocked and saddened by the news they are waking up to this morning.
I send my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who have been killed and those who were injured in this tragic accident.
I would like to thank our first responders for their rapid response to this incident last night, including the NSW Police Force, NSW Ambulance, and NSW Fire and Rescue, as well as staff at NSW Health and Transport for NSW.
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You can watch Tracy Chapman’s press conference here:
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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.
— Scott Farlow (@scottfarlow) June 11, 2023
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, 2023
The accident in the Hunter Valley is truly horrific.
— Jo Haylen MP (@johaylen) June 12, 2023
Like many people this morning, I’m struggling to comprehend the scale of this loss of life and injury.
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‘Australia wraps its arms around you’
The PM reminds people worried about family or friends to 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.
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PM thanks first responders and health staff
Anthony 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.
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Locals involved in tragedy, PM says
Anthony Albanese 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.
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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.
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Anthony Albanese begins press conferece
The prime minister is speaking now in Canberra.
All 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.
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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.
Repacholi 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
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Community 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.
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The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is expected to front the media in about 15 minutes.
NSW premier offers condolences after 'profoundly tragic' event
Chris 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.
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‘It’s just a reminder of how fragile our lives are’
Clayton Barr, the NSW state member for Cessnock, said the roundabout in question was typically well-lit and had a good road surface.
It is used to access the Hunter Expressway to Newcastle and to the Upper Hunter. It is a major roundabout used daily by locals and tourists visiting the region.
Barr told Nine:
It’s an incredibly well-lit area, the road surface is terrific. It was on a roundabout, the bus couldn’t have been doing any more than 20-30km/h. It’s just a reminder of how fragile our lives are when we’re out on the road really. Simple things, small things.
Police are yet to say anything about the cause of the crash and it is not known how fast the bus was travelling.
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New South Wales roads minister Jenny Aitchison said the state was in shock after the horror bus crash in the Hunter Valley overnight.
Speaking to 2GB, she described the response of emergency services as “amazing”.
This has been going on since 11.30pm last night. We’ve had people airlifted to hospitals in Sydney and right across the Hunter.
It’s just a massive effort and of course my condolences and sympathies go out to the families and the friends of these people, it’s just such a tragic time and we’re thinking of them.
Witnesses urged to call Crime Stoppers
NSW police have issued a further statement calling for assistance in identifying the victims of the crash:
Police are still working to identify the crash victims and contact their next of kin.
Family and friends of a person who may have been on board the bus are urged to contact Cessnock Police Station on 02 4991 0199.
Witnesses – or anyone with information relevant to the circumstances surrounding the crash – are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to keep the line to Cessnock Police Station clear for concerned family members.
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‘There are a lot of roadworks in and about that area’
New South Wales member for the Upper Hunter Dave Layzell, who was speaking on ABC News Breakfast earlier, confirmed there were several roadworks in the area at the time and much of the road had a speed limit of 40km/h:
The roundabout it is a very large roundabout … [there’s] a lot of land development going on there at the moment, and there are a lot of roadworks in and about that area around the roundabout itself.
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‘Deeply saddened’
The Today show journalist Lara Vella is in the Hunter Valley. This is the statement she has received from the winery where guests were celebrating before the crash.
I’ve just received a statement from the wedding venue following the horrific Hunter Valley bus tragedy. The venue will closed today out of respect to the couple. pic.twitter.com/qpIeJSb8kF
— Lara Vella (@vella_lara) June 11, 2023
The winery is yet to post a public statement.
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What we know so far
The police press conference has just concluded. To recap:
Ten people have died and 25 people have been injured in the bus crash, which occurred at a roundabout on Wine Country Drive near Greta about 11.30pm.
The coach remains on its side, and victims of the crash are yet to have been removed. Families are continuing to be contacted. There is a possibility more people may still be trapped under the bus.
The driver of the bus, a 58-year-old man, has been arrested and is at Cessnock police station. He has not been seriously injured and police believe there was “sufficient information” for him to be arrested.
Two people were airlifted to hospital, with the rest of the injured taken to nearby hospitals by road.
No children are understood to have been involved in the crash. We don’t know the ages of the victims.
The people on the bus were travelling to Singleton to their accommodation after celebrating a wedding.
Police are still trying to identify all of the people on the bus. If you have friends or family who may have been there, contact Cessnock police station. If you have any information about the crash, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Tracy Chapman says the people travelling on the bus were heading to their accommodation in Singleton, about a 20-minute drive from Greta, after the wedding.
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‘It was a confronting and very traumatic scene’
Two people were airlifted out after the crash, Chapman says, with the majority taken by road to nearby hospitals.
She can’t comment on who was the first to arrive on the scene but acknowledges it was “confronting and very traumatic”:
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. From a policing perspective, our role is to make sure that we undertake a full and thorough investigation to ensure that some comfort may be given to those family members and the public at the conclusion of that investigation and that process.
I’m aware it was a confronting and very traumatic scene. Wherever you have got that large-scale incident with that many people, it’s going to be difficult for anyone. So our thoughts are with police and all first responders who attended.
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‘We will look at all avenues’
Tracy Chapman says her understanding is it was a single-vehicle collision.
She doesn’t comment as to whether speed was a factor in the crash, for which there has been “sufficient information” to arrest the driver:
Our investigation and information at this stage indicate that it is a single-vehicle collision but obviously as we work through that scene and obtain any other information that’s available from witnesses or from what the scene presents, then we will look at all avenues.
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Bodies remain at the site
The victims of the crash have not been removed from the site, Chapman says:
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 … the deceased have not been removed.
Of the 25 people being treated in hospital, she says injuries vary and she can’t elaborate on them.
She says it is her understanding no children have been injured in the crash.
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Chapman says she is “not aware” if the driver, who is at Cessnock police station, is injured but if he was, they were “very minor” injuries not warranting hospitalisation.
Victims could still be trapped under bus
Tracy Chapman says it is possible victims of the crash are still trapped under the bus.
She says she couldn’t elaborate on whether the death toll will rise but “certainly the bus is still on its side and yet to be righted”:
There are also people who are still injured in hospital, at least two of which were airlifted and so there’s always a possibility that that number may increase.
Reporter:
So there’s a potential that people could still be trapped under that bus as you try to work?
Chapman:
There is that potential, yes.
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Driver arrested
To reiterate, the driver of the vehicle is under arrest.
He’s been the driver of a motor vehicle collision where there have been fatal injuries and there will be charges pending.
Asked what sort of charges, Chapman says it’s “too early to go into any of those issues”.
Reporter:
Assistant commissioner, I understand it is very early in the investigation, but it is unusual for you to be able to say that he will be facing charges as opposed to being under guard. What information can you provide that would suggest that he will be charged and why will he be charged?
Chapman:
There’s sufficient information, he’s the driver of a motor vehicle, there’s sufficient information for us to establish that there will be charges, but I but I won’t go into the detail about those at this stage.
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‘We are still trying to identify all of the people on the bus’
Tracy Chapman says a crime scene has been established and is being forensically examined by the crash investigation unit and and specialist police:
If there are friends or family of anyone who may have been on that bus – we are still trying to identify all of the people on the bus – they can contact Cessnock police station.
If there are people with information in relation to the accident, they should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. I urge people with information to contact Crime Stoppers rather than Cessnock police station in order to leave those lines open for friends and family.
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Police press conference begins
New South Wales police’s Tracy Chapman is speaking now.
She confirms 10 people have died and 25 have been taken to hospital with “varying injuries”. The driver of the coach, a 58-year-old man, is under arrest:
Good morning on a very difficult morning and some tragic circumstances. At approximately 11.30pm last night, emergency services were called to the roundabout on Wine Country Drive just near the Hunter Expressway offramp in relation to a motor vehicle collision.
Upon arrival, it was identified that a coach had overturned on that roundabout and at this stage it appeared to be a single-vehicle collision … there are 10 people confirmed deceased and a further 25 people have been transported to hospital and at this stage, they have varying injuries.
A 58-year-old man, the driver of the coach, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and he’s now at Cessnock police station and currently under arrest.
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Site was ‘thick with fog’ hours earlier
Dave Layzell passed through the crash site just hours before the rollover occurred, and says it was thick with fog.
The area … [is] one of the links off the expressway, into the wine region and down Wine Country Drive, it allows you to connect up to the major centres … but it was an area that I went through just a few hours earlier, ironically, and it was thick with fog and very, you know, very hard driving conditions when you’ve got that thick fog around.
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‘We pride ourselves on the ability to show people a good time’
New South Wales member for the Upper Hunter Dave Layzell is appearing now on ABC News Breakfast. He says the tragedy took place after a packed weekend of festivals and events:
It’s absolutely devastating news … this is a real tragedy. Our area, we pride ourselves on the ability to show people a good time, lots of weddings, lots of vineyards, a lot of short breaks out of Sydney, out of Newcastle.
We were just last week celebrating … what a great area we have created, what a great tourist destination and for this to happen at the end of what has been a huge weekend of local festivals, a lot of local fun, it’s just tragic.
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‘A terrible tragedy after the joy of a wedding,’ Dutton says
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has offered his support to the injured and families of those who have lost loved ones in the crash:
A terrible tragedy after the joy of a wedding.
As Australians awake to the horrific news of the bus crash in the Hunter Valley, our hopes are with those injured and our hearts break for the families and friends who have lost loved ones last night. A terrible tragedy after the joy of a wedding.
— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) June 11, 2023
As details unfold today, we thank all the emergency services involved.
— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) June 11, 2023
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Roadblocks surround crash site
Images are beginning to come in from the blocked road at Wine Country Drive, Greta, the site of the horrific bus crash.
Police have confirmed at least 10 people have been killed, with others taken to hospitals across the region.
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A look at Wandin Estate
It is being reported that victims of the crash were celebrating a wedding at Wandin Estate in Lovedale before the tragedy occurred.
The Hunter Valley is a hugely popular winery region and wedding site, with dozens of locations across the region. Wandin Estate is set among 120 acres of vineyards, lawns and bushland.
The local mayor, Jay Suvaal, said:
We’re a major tourist destination. I’m sure there’s been many people from across the country that have done similar things to this. They’ll I’m sure be sending their love and well wishes along to the people involved in this as well.
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Police press conference expected soon
Earlier, we reported there would be a NSW police media conference this morning to update the community on the crash.
We can confirm acting deputy commissioner Brett Greentree and acting assistant commissioner Tracy Chapman will be up in about half an hour at Branxton, the site of the crash:
Senior police will address the media after 10 people died and multiple others were injured in a bus crash at Greta, in the state’s Hunter region overnight.
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Ambulance inspector audio played
Sydney radio station 2GB has played audio from the emergency services scanner in which a NSW ambulance inspector can be heard describing the bus crash as a “major incident” with “multiple patients” and asking for “all resources” to help.
The inspector refers to “seven code fours”, referring to seven deaths. That toll has since risen.
The inspector is recorded as saying:
Major incident declared, we have a bus rollover, multiple patients. The exact location is on Wine Country Drive overpass, we have police, fire brigade on scene. At this stage we have identified seven, I repeat seven, code fours.
We have multiple red and orange label patients at this stage. I need all resources allocated to continue, I’m still trying to work out exactly how many patients I have here.
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Prime minister sends sympathies to loved ones and victims
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has offered his thoughts to the loved ones of those killed in the crash, and those who have been injured.
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.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 11, 2023
For a day of joy to end in such devastating loss is cruel indeed.
Our thoughts are also with those who have been injured.
Thank you to all the first responders who rushed to the scene, and those continuing to assist and care for those affected by this tragedy.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 11, 2023
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Praise for paramedics
The paramedics who attended the scene have been praised for their efforts to save the bus passengers.
Paula Sinclair, of NSW Ambulance, told Channel Seven that police were working to liaise and notify families of the wedding guests.
She said her thoughts go out to the affected families, and her paramedics did a “fantastic job under the circumstances”:
Whilst they are paramedics every day of their lives, something like this is not a job they go to every day.
I’m incredibly proud of all the paramedics that attended, they did a fantastic job under the circumstances. No doubt they’ll be reflecting and we’ll make sure we have the right supports for them available as well.
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First responders thanked
Asked if he would visit the site of the crash, Dan Repacholi says he’ll talk to people in the area, including first responders he knows personally:
And the first responders, thank you for all the work you do in these terrible, terrible conditions … I’ll continue to talk to people and monitor the situation and just see what help we can be – if we can be of any help at all.
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Victims airlifted out
Dan Repacholi says about six helicopters airlifted victims out of the crash site, taking them to the nearby John Hunter hospital – the closest trauma centre – and further on to Sydney:
They’re using all hospitals around the area to make sure that these people get the best care they can.
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Dan Repacholi says the tragedy will have a “huge impact” on the whole region for some time:
[But] the impact on the Hunter Valley is small compared to what the impact is going to be on these families … and the people in hospital.
We don’t know how they all are in hospital, so we can’t speculate on any of that, but … my heart goes out to these families and I really feel for them what they’re going to go through in the near future.
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‘It’s just an absolute tragedy to wake up to’
Federal member for the Hunter Dan Repacholi is appearing now on ABC News Breakfast. Repacholi lives just 15 minutes from the site of the crash.
This is absolutely devastating news to wake up to this morning and my heart goes out to the families of the victims and the people in hospital right now. It’s just an absolute tragedy to wake up to.
We drive around the Hunter roads every week, we’re on these roads. Those roads in that area are good roads. So I really can’t see that being an issue.
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Crash came after ‘fairytale wedding’
Multiple outlets are reporting that the bus wedding guests had been at the Hunter Valley’s Wandin Estate Winery before the crash.
The winery, based in Lovedale, is a popular wedding venue and offers on-site accommodation.
One wedding guest has told Channel Seven he was in shock after what he described as a “fairytale” wedding.
The guest, speaking outside of John Hunter hospital, said:
It was a nice day, a pretty good wedding ... fairytale stuff. And then ... we got the news that there had been a crash, and we all started panicking.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) June 11, 2023
At least ten people are dead after their bus has rolled while returning from a wedding in the NSW Hunter region. pic.twitter.com/DAJ4exa3g8
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‘Please stay away from that area’
Executive director of the NSW transport management centre Craig Moran appeared this morning on the Today show.
He confirmed the location remained closed, with a police investigation ongoing:
We definitely ask people, please stay away from that area.
It’s a really tragic event that’s occurred overnight. There’s a lot of emergency services have responded. The location will be closed for some time to allow those investigations to be undertaken.
He said the location of the crash wasn’t a “problem location that we’re aware of”:
I think it will take police some time. Initial focus has been looking after the people who have been caught up in this tragic event.
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We are hearing reports that NSW Police are planning to hold a press conference in the next couple of hours to provide an update on the crash.
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Plibersek sends condolences
Minister for the environment and member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek has sent her condolences to the community of the Hunter Valley and those who’ve lost loved ones in the crash:
A day of celebration ending in tragedy. Just terrible.
Horrible news overnight of a bus crash in the Hunter Valley.
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) June 11, 2023
A day of celebration ending in tragedy. Just terrible.
Thinking of those who have lost loved ones, those who are injured, and the whole community.
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Crash will ‘rock the community to its core’
Clayton Barr, the state member for Cessnock, is speaking now on 2GB radio.
He says the event is going to “rock the community to its core”:
Greta [where the crash occurred] is a small community … 20 minutes from larger towns, they [emergency services] would typically be very thin on the ground. Last night it was all hands on deck.
He says the event was one of the biggest bus tragedies NSW has faced, and it’s still very early days:
I don’t even know if police have had a chance to contact all the families at the moment because of the nature of the crash … it’ll take a long time to recover for everyone … get home safe, wherever you are, get home safe every day.
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Crash site a large roundabout over a major highway
Jay Suvaal said the road where the crash occurred was a large roundabout going over a major highway – the Hunter Expressway.
He said there appeared to have been a lot of fog yesterday evening but until crash investigations were complete it would not be known whether this contributed to the tragedy.
He is making his way to the crash site this morning:
We’re a close-knit community. We do come together in difficult circumstances. I’m sure the community as a whole will be there supporting the local residents around this. And offering any support they can provide to emergency services.
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‘It’s truly devastating’
Jay Suvaal told ABC News Breakfast the job of the council right now was to support emergency services.
We’ll be working with them and through the day looking at what other support is needed to be provided to the community.
It’s truly devastating. We’re a major tourist destination. So I’m sure there’s been many people from across the country that have done similar things to this. They’ll I’m sure be sending their love and well wishes along to the people involved in this as well.
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'It does appear that it was a wedding chartered bus,' Cessnock mayor says
Jay Suvaal, the mayor of Cessnock, says the 10 people who were killed in the bus rollover were apparently coming from a wedding:
He has told ABC News Breakfast:
We’re still waiting for further details to come to light as the investigations continue.
We don’t know the circumstances around the crash at the moment.
But it does appear that it was a wedding chartered bus that had been coming from a wedding earlier that day.
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State MP extends condolences
Jenny Aitchison, the state member for Maitland, where the tragedy has occurred, has expressed her condolences to the loved ones of those involved in the tragedy and thanked the first responders:
I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones involved in the tragedy in the Hunter overnight.
Thank you to all who have responded to this incident in tragic circumstances.
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Road closures
Wine Country Drive remains closed in both directions at Greta, west of Maitland.
Motorists are being advised they can divert around the closure via Bridge Street, Drinan Street, Clift Street and the New England Highway.
The northbound and southbound off-ramps from the Hunter Expressway to Wine Country Drive are also closed, although through lanes are not affected.
Due to the nature of the crash, the NSW Transport Management Centre says there is no forecast for how long the road will be closed.
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Crime scene established as police investigate
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has commenced, with a large-scale emergency response involving local police, rescue squad and highway patrol officers, ambulance paramedics, NSW Fire and Rescue and the Rural Fire Service.
A crime scene has been established, which will be examined by specialist forensic police and the force’s crash investigation unit.
The 58-year-old driver of the bus has been taken to hospital under police guard for mandatory testing and assessment.
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Good morning
We have awoken to horrific news overnight that 10 people have been killed when a bus rolled in the NSW Hunter Valley, with 11 more taken to hospital by road and helicopter.
Emergency services were called to the crash site about 11.30pm last night at a roundabout on Wine Country Drive near Greta.
Initial inquiries indicate 10 people have died, 11 were injured and a further 18 passengers were uninjured, according to a police statement.
We’ll have more details on that shortly and updates throughout the day.
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