Hunter Valley Wedding Bus Crash: The bus driver’s allegedly chilling words to passengers before the fright strikes

Survivors of a horrific bus crash that killed 10 wedding guests say the bus driver bragged to the passengers just moments before he lost control of the vehicle and the tragedy struck.

Flowers now mark the spot where the bus with 35 guests rolled just 10km back to the guest’s accommodation at around 11:30pm on Sunday.

Bus driver Brett Andrew Button is said to have said to his passengers shortly before the accident near the Hunter Expressway exit, 12 km north in Greta, New South Wales: “If you think that was fast… look at this.” at.”

Button, a 58-year-old man from Maitland, is said to have made the comments over the vehicle’s internal microphone just moments before he lost control of the bus, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Survivors and close friends are said to have expressed concern about the speed of the bus and urged others to remain in their seats for safety.

Button is expected to appear in court on Tuesday. He is charged with 11 felonies, including 10 counts of dangerous driving resulting in death, dangerous driving and negligent driving (resulting in death).

Guests had spent the day celebrating Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney’s wedding at the picturesque Wandin Valley Estate before becoming horrified.

Ambulance services were called to the scene around 11:30 p.m. Sunday and found 10 bodies and 25 injured guests, one of whom was in critical condition, in the mangled debris.

Deputy Commissioner David Wardell said the passengers on the bus were all adults between the ages of 20 and 60, including some locals and others from the motorway.

Commissioner Wardell said passengers suffered cuts, fractures and fractures when the bus fell on its left as it entered the roundabout.

“We will be going through the disaster victim identification process over the next few days.” “Our investigators, our family liaison officers, are speaking to the families and the victims,” ​​he told reporters Tuesday.

The number of people hospitalized currently stands at 21, with two in intensive care.

Seven of the dead are thought to have come from the nearby town of Singleton.

They include Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen, as well as mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride. Kyah’s friend Kane Symons is missing.

Queensland’s Angus Craig and Byron Bay’s Zachary Bray are among the fatalities, as is Melbourne’s Darcy Bullman.

Singleton couple Andrew and Lynan Scott also died in the crash. They appear to have two children.

Zach Bray’s uncle expressed shock at his nephew’s death in the bus crash.

“My nephew, Zach Bray, died in the Cessnock bus crash last night,” said Zach’s uncle, Martin Bray.

“All my friends and family are shocked at the loss of such a beautiful young man.”

Daily Mail Australia confirmed on Monday that Brandon Stafford, a best man who had traveled from Victoria for the wedding, was among the injured.

Their host, local reporter Alex Tigani, is recovering at John Hunter Hospital.

He revealed that the crash resembled a “theater of war” and that it was covered in “other people’s blood” after the crash.

A family of three, consisting of an elderly couple and their adult son, are also being treated for injuries at John Hunter Hospital and are all expected to survive.

While police conducted their investigation, the bus lay on its side for most of Monday before being restored to an upright position with the help of a tow truck.

Deputy Commissioner Tracy Chapman said the bus crashed within the first 10 minutes of a 35-minute drive to the guests’ accommodation in Singleton.

“These are tragic circumstances.” “There is no counting the number of family members, but also the wider community that will be affected,” she said.

The Wandin Valley Estate has posted a sign on its front gate saying it is being closed “out of respect” for those killed or injured in the tragedy.

Lights on Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Opera House and the Museum of Contemporary Art were turned off on Monday night in tribute to the victims at the city’s Vivid Festival.

The community of Singleton also paid their respects to the victims of the crash by holding a special service at Christchurch Cathedral in Newcastle.

The Anglican Church opened in Singleton, Branxton and Cessnock to give locals a space to mourn the loss of ten parishioners.

Bishop of Newcastle Peter Stuart said he wanted people to know they are not alone and to pray for them.

“We don’t expect people to go to anything and not come home alive, so this impact breaks our hearts,” he told the ABC.

The couple, whose wedding the bus passengers attended on Sunday, both played for local club, the Singleton Roosters, with some guests also being players.

The Terrigal-Avoca Panthers said the club was shocked at news of the tragic bus accident.

“Our club is shocked to hear the tragic news of last night’s bus accident involving players from Singleton Roosters AFC,” it said.

“Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family and friends who have lost loved ones.”

A man displayed his Singleton Roosters jersey outside his home in tribute to the victims of the bus crash.

“In support of the horrific events of this morning’s bus crash involving so many of your club members, I will be attending as a token of my support for you,” he wrote online.

“Not just AFL clubs, all sports clubs offer people a sense of belonging and being part of a community.”

“If you are a member of a sports club, I encourage you to do the same to show a sense of community and support to these people at an incredibly difficult time.”

Hunter New England Health established a clinic at the Singleton Youth Venue to support community members with mental health services.