Ten people returning from a “fairytale” wedding in Australia’s Hunter Valley wine region in New South Wales have been killed in a devastating bus crash. More than 20 others have been taken to hospital with various injuries after the bus overturned late on Sunday night.
The 58-year-old driver has been arrested and charges are pending, while a crime scene has been declared at the site of the crash.
The acting police commissioner, Tracy Chapman, said it was possible there were people still trapped at the scene and that it was “a confronting and very traumatic scene” for first responders.
“There are 10 people confirmed deceased and a further 25 people have been transported to hospital and at this stage, they have varying injuries,” she said.
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Chapman says a number of people involved with the crash “were able to free themselves and walk to get help and aid”.
Police are still working to identify the families of the wedding guests.
On Monday morning the premier, Chris Minns, updated the number of injured, saying there were 21 people being treated across four hospitals; with one person in a critical condition but the rest stable.
He said a “day that was meant to be a joyous one … has ended in unimaginable despair”.
Chapman said the group had been at a wedding together.
“It’s my understanding they were travelling together to Singleton, presumably for their accommodation,” she said.
“It’s a tragic set of circumstances. The number of family members, [and the] broader community, who will be impacted by this, you couldn’t count.”
Chapman said the police role was to “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”.
“[The bus driver 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,” she said.
Chapman said as far as police knew, no children were involved.
Police were called to Wine Country Drive near Greta just after 11.30pm in response to reports that a coach had rolled. Guests had been at the Wandin Estate winery in Lovedale before the crash. The winery posted on Instagram that they were “deeply saddened” to hear of the fatal crash, and that they were supporting guests who needed their help.
The Hunter Valley is a wine region located approximately 250km north of Sydney, and is a popular holiday and wedding destination.
“It was a nice day, pretty good wedding, fairytale stuff, then … we got the news there had been a crash and we all started panicking,” a man who said he had been at the wedding told the Seven Network.
Emergency services remain at the scene of a fatal bus crash, where multiple people have died, and more than 10 others were injured in the state’s Hunter region overnight.
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) June 11, 2023
More info: https://t.co/5APo6ACuVR
Emergency services were still on the scene early on Monday. The driver of the bus was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and assessment before his arrest, police said.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said some local residents were on the bus, as he thanked first responders and sent his wishes for a recovery to the injured.
“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,” he said. “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.
“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.”
The mayor of Cessnock city council, Jay Suvaal, said the crash had happened at a roundabout ramp.
He said there was “a lot of fog around” but that the investigation into the crash’s cause was ongoing.
Paula Sinclair of NSW Ambulance told the ABC police were working to notify families of the wedding guests.
She said 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,” she said. “I’m incredibly proud of all the paramedics that attended … No doubt they’ll be reflecting and we’ll make sure we have the right supports for them available as well.”
The federal MP for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, said the crash was “absolutely devastating”.
“My heart really goes out to the families involved,” he said.
Suvaal said he had first seen reports of emergency services in the area in the middle of the night. It must have been “truly tragic” for the first responders, he said.
“[It happened] just off the Hunter Expressway [that goes] into the towns of Greta and Branxton. It’s a small community … the community there will be waking up to the shock of it all today.”
Suvaal said road diversions would remain in place while crash investigations were under way.
Chapman said friends or family of anyone who may have been on the bus should contact Cessnock police station.
“If there are people with information in relation to the accident, they should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” she said.
“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.”
– with Australian Associated Press
