Development of a marriage bus crash as police seize TWENTY coaches for inspection following a robbery of a business at the center of tragedy – as a heartbroken town gathers to mourn the 10 people who died
- Bus company in the heart of Hunter Valley Crash depots raided by police
- The company, Linq Buslines, was hit with two infringement notices
The bus company at the center of the tragic Hunter Valley bus crash has been raided by police and issued two breach notices and seven defects.
Ten people were killed when a Linq Buslines bus rolled into a roundabout at 11:30pm Sunday after leaving Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney’s wedding at the Wandin Valley Estate winery.
Driver Brett Button, 58, has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving resulting in death and one count of negligent driving resulting in death and was granted bail when he appeared in Cessnock local court on Tuesday.
Police stormed two bus depots in Wyong and East Gresford on Thursday to inspect 20 Linq Buslines buses.
The inspection on Linq’s buses took place hours before a community-led vigil for friends and family in Greta, near the crash site.
Ten people were killed when a Linq Buslines bus rolled into a roundabout at 11:30pm Sunday after leaving the wedding of Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney at the Wandin Valley Estate winery
The inspection on Linq’s buses took place hours before a community-led vigil for friends and family in Greta, near the crash site (pictured)
The inspection was carried out by officers from NSW Police, Highway Patrol Command, Traffic Operations Group and Crash Investigation Unit – along with investigators and inspectors from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
“The joint operation included a comprehensive audit of documentation related to fatigue, driver management, vehicle service and maintenance records and safety management systems,” said a NSW Police spokesman.
“During the audit, 20 buses were inspected and seven defect reports were issued, including one major defect, for a cracked windshield, oil leaks, non-functioning seat belts and vehicle lights, and seats that were not properly secured.
“As a result, the operator received two infringement notices for allowing the use of heavy vehicles in violation of the standard and the use of heavy vehicles with defective seats.”
Police stormed two bus depots in Wyong (pictured) and East Gresford on Thursday to inspect 20 Linq Buslines buses
Bus driver Brett Andrew Button (pictured), reportedly ‘rolled up’ and sobbing all night in jail after being charged with a fatal bus accident that left 10 dead and 25 injured
A spokesman for Linq said: ‘The only major defect identified in the fleet has been rectified and the minor defects are being addressed in accordance with the timelines established by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Linq for comment.
There were emotional scenes in Greta where devastated members of the local community gathered to pay tribute to the departed.
Survivors of the crash and loved ones of those on board lit candles and laid flowers in a moving show of unity.
Heartbreaking photos show grieving mourners hugging each other in tears.
Survivors of the crash and loved ones of those on board lit candles and laid flowers in a moving show of unity
Heartbreaking photos show grieving mourners hugging each other in tears
A woman is depicted paying tribute to those sadly killed in the tragedy
Concerns about Button’s driving had previously been raised by teachers at a Central Coast school following a field trip to Bathurst just days before the accident.
“During the trip to Bathurst, our teachers raised concerns about the driver and reported back at the end of the trip according to our usual procedures,” Phillip Nash, director of Green Point Christian College, wrote to parents.
“We ask staff to report any concerns… Their concerns were not of a nature that they felt they should contact us during the trip.”
A Linq spokesperson told the The Sydney Morning Herald: “We received no other complaints about Mr. Button before receiving that letter.”
“As with all our drivers, Mr. Button was not hired until he passed an independent driver assessment and had his references checked.”