This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/13/bus-driver-charged-charges-fatal-hunter-valley-crash-nsw-police-cessnock-local-court
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Hunter Valley bus driver Brett Button released on bail after court appearance in Cessnock | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Button, 58, was granted bail on Tuesday and left the police station hours later | |
| Police allege the driver of a horror bus crash that left 10 wedding guests dead and 25 injured was driving “too quick” for the conditions of the road, as two survivors remain in a critical condition. | Police allege the driver of a horror bus crash that left 10 wedding guests dead and 25 injured was driving “too quick” for the conditions of the road, as two survivors remain in a critical condition. |
| Brett Button, 58, was granted bail on Tuesday morning and left the Cessnock police station several hours later. He has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, and one further count of negligent driving in relation to all 10 deaths. | |
| He left the police station holding a Coles bag, and with the hood of his jumper drawn tightly around his face. | |
| Button walked briskly to the car which was waiting for him outside the gates at the back of the police station. | |
| During the bail hearing at the Cessnock local court, magistrate Robyn Richardson noted despite the strong prosecution case, “bail should not be denied as a punishment.” | |
| “It is clear to this court he suffers along with the victims … I see before me a man suffering.” | “It is clear to this court he suffers along with the victims … I see before me a man suffering.” |
| Earlier on Tuesday morning, superintendent David Waddell alleged the driver, who was taking passengers from a wedding venue in Lovedale to Singleton in foggy conditions late on Sunday, “entered that roundabout driving in a manner that was inconsistent with the conditions”. | Earlier on Tuesday morning, superintendent David Waddell alleged the driver, who was taking passengers from a wedding venue in Lovedale to Singleton in foggy conditions late on Sunday, “entered that roundabout driving in a manner that was inconsistent with the conditions”. |
| “The speed was too quick for him to negotiate that roundabout, causing the vehicle to fall on to its left side and cause those injuries,” Waddell alleged. | “The speed was too quick for him to negotiate that roundabout, causing the vehicle to fall on to its left side and cause those injuries,” Waddell alleged. |
| Nine passengers died at the scene, while one died in hospital. Waddell said that 12 passengers have been released from various local and Sydney hospitals as of last night, but that 14 remain. | Nine passengers died at the scene, while one died in hospital. Waddell said that 12 passengers have been released from various local and Sydney hospitals as of last night, but that 14 remain. |
| Two passengers are in intensive care at the John Hunter hospital, in a critical but stable condition. | Two passengers are in intensive care at the John Hunter hospital, in a critical but stable condition. |
| “The injuries range from lacerations to breaks and fractures. There’s minor injuries to very serious injuries with two in ICU,” Waddell said. | “The injuries range from lacerations to breaks and fractures. There’s minor injuries to very serious injuries with two in ICU,” Waddell said. |
| Waddell said the victims range from in their 20s to 60s, and are locals as well as interstate guests. | Waddell said the victims range from in their 20s to 60s, and are locals as well as interstate guests. |
| Most of the local victims, as well as the bride and groom, are from the town of Singleton. The newlyweds, Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell, who were not on the bus, were both keen footballers and belonged to the Singleton men’s and women’s teams, the Roosters and Roosterettes. | Most of the local victims, as well as the bride and groom, are from the town of Singleton. The newlyweds, Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell, who were not on the bus, were both keen footballers and belonged to the Singleton men’s and women’s teams, the Roosters and Roosterettes. |
| Sign up to Guardian Australia's Afternoon Update | Sign up to Guardian Australia's Afternoon Update |
| Our Australian afternoon update email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matter | Our Australian afternoon update email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matter |
| after newsletter promotion | after newsletter promotion |
| Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup | |
| Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup | |
| Mayor Sue Moore says the community is struggling to come to terms with the deaths. | Mayor Sue Moore says the community is struggling to come to terms with the deaths. |
| “I understand seven of the victims are from Singleton – so, struggling still, coming to terms with it. The wider community as well as the families, obviously,” she said. | “I understand seven of the victims are from Singleton – so, struggling still, coming to terms with it. The wider community as well as the families, obviously,” she said. |
| Police will conduct mechanical examinations of the 57-seat Volvo bus on Tuesday. | Police will conduct mechanical examinations of the 57-seat Volvo bus on Tuesday. |
| The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, spoke about the tragedy again on Tuesday, describing it as “beyond belief”. | The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, spoke about the tragedy again on Tuesday, describing it as “beyond belief”. |
| “It’s just such a horrific incident to occur. People associate weddings with love and lifelong commitments and celebrations with family and friends. And for it to end in this horrific tragedy, with so many deaths, so many injuries … Of course, the scars will last for such a long, long period of time,” he told ABC radio. | “It’s just such a horrific incident to occur. People associate weddings with love and lifelong commitments and celebrations with family and friends. And for it to end in this horrific tragedy, with so many deaths, so many injuries … Of course, the scars will last for such a long, long period of time,” he told ABC radio. |
| “It is going to be very difficult for the communities involved, the two sporting teams involved as well. It is just a tragedy beyond belief.” | “It is going to be very difficult for the communities involved, the two sporting teams involved as well. It is just a tragedy beyond belief.” |