Authorities are investigating exactly what caused a bus to roll and crash so hard in a 40 km/h speed zone that it resulted in at least ten deaths and more than a dozen serious injuries.
Police are not ruling out speed as the cause of the roundabout accident in regional NSW as locals say the road surface on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway near Greta is ‘great’ and the roadway is ‘incredibly well lit’ .
Due to construction work, the approach to the roundabout was reduced to one lane and a temporary speed limit of 40 km/h was in place.
However, when the bus rolled around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, the area was shrouded in dense fog, which significantly reduced visibility.
The chartered 57-seat bus transported guests from Maddy Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney’s wedding at Lovedale’s Wandin Estate winery to accommodation in nearby Singleton.
The roundabout in Hunter Valley, where a bus crashed killing at least ten wedding guests, is in a 40km/h zone and it’s too early to say if speed was a factor in the accident
Chilling audio from the emergency service radio reveals the horror of the scene.
“Major incident declared,” a first responder can be heard saying in a recording shared by Today. “We have a bus that overturns. Multiple patients.’
“At this stage we have identified seven, I repeat, seven code fours.”
“We have one patient with a red label whose injuries are serious. And unfortunately we expect that to become code four as well.’
“Code four” refers to a fatal accident.
At least ten passengers were killed and 25 were taken to John Hunter and Calvary Mater Hospitals in Newcastle, as well as Maitland Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
The Volvo coach, operated by Linq Buslines and fully equipped with seat belts, was driven by a 58-year-old man who passed a negative alcohol test.
Linq released a statement saying the company was cooperating with police during the investigation into the crash.
“We are incredibly saddened to learn of the bush crash that happened overnight,” the statement said. “Our hearts are with everyone involved in this terrible tragedy and we extend our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones.
When the bus rolled into a roundabout near Greta at around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, the area was shrouded in thick fog, which significantly reduced visibility
“We would like to thank the first responders on the scene, the emergency services and those who continue to help.
‘Trauma counseling is available to all employees and their families at Linq Buslines.
“We are cooperating with NSW police and authorities in their investigation. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further while the investigation is ongoing.”
The driver was at Cessnock police station on Monday afternoon and was being questioned by detectives. There were reports that he had been driving erratically before the accident.
Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said there was ‘enough information’ for police to press charges against the driver, who was arrested.
“He was the driver of a motor vehicle collision resulting in fatal injuries and charges will be filed,” Deputy Commissioner Chapman said.
Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman did not provide details on what caused the bus to roll, saying it was “much too early” to say if speed was a factor.
Police reportedly struggled to understand how a bus could roll into such a large roundabout.
The 57-seat bus transported guests from Maddy Edsall and Mitchell Gaffney’s wedding at the Wandin Estate winery to accommodation in nearby Singleton.
Peta Hughes, a local business owner from Branxton, north of Greta, said the roundabout where the bus crashed had recently been reduced to one lane due to construction work.
“They’ve got barriers and safety posts and stuff around there. It’s a 40km/h zone,” Ms Hughes told News Breakfast.
Local federal MP Dan Repacholi said he did not see how the road being reduced to one lane could have been the cause of the accident.
“We drive the Hunter roads every day of the week,” Mr Repacholi told News Breakfast. “Those roads in that area are good roads. So I really don’t see that as a problem.’
State MP for Cessnock Clayton Barr said, “It was on a roundabout, the bus couldn’t go over 12-18 mph.”
“It’s an incredibly well lit area, the road surface is great. It’s just a reminder of how fragile our lives are when we’re really on the road. Simple things, little things.’
At least ten passengers were killed and 25 were transferred to John Hunter and Calvary Mater Hospitals in Newcastle, Maitland Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal said driving conditions appeared to be “foggy”.
“There also seems to have been a lot of fog,” said Mr. Suvaal.
“Until we know the circumstances of the crash investigation, we’re not really sure what may have contributed to it.”
Daily Mail Australia understands there was so much fog at the site that helicopters were forced to land on a nearby residential area.
A crime scene has been identified and will be investigated by the specialist forensic police and the Crash Investigation Unit.
The emergency response includes officers from Hunter Valley Police District, Police Rescue, Traffic and Highway Patrol, NSW Ambulance paramedics, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Rural Fire Service and several hospital transport helicopters.