More details of a horrific wedding bus crash which killed 10 people, and injured two dozen others in the NSW Hunter region have been revealed.
Just after 11.30pm on Sunday, the coach carrying about 40 people rolled on Wine Country Dr near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp at Greta.
Ten people were killed in the crash and 25 others were transported to hospital.
In an update on Monday afternoon, NSW Health said 21 patients were being treated across four hospitals.
One patient is in a critical condition and eight patients are in a stable condition at John Hunter Hospital, five are stable at Maitland Hospital, five are stable in Calvary Mater Hospital and two are stable at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney, they said.
7NEWS understands the bus was carrying guests who had attended a wedding at the Wandin Estate Winery in Lovedale, and were travelling to Singleton.
The winery has since issued a statement via social media.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the bus crash overnight that has claimed the lives of some of our guests,” it said.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the victims, and we are supporting them in any way we can.”
Heartbroken locals attended the scene of the crash to lay flowers and share their condolences.
“We heard the helicopters last night fly by several times … it’s just devastating,” locals told 7NEWS.
“We heard from a friend who worked at Wandin that there was a massive crash … it’s pretty difficult to comprehend.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman, Northern Region Commander, said any friends or family of anyone who may have been on that bus can contact Cessnock police station.
“At this stage, 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 on Monday morning.
“Obviously we’ve had a large-scale emergency response, and we will work to the investigative avenues in relation to the accident.
“But we have family liaison officers who will be assigned to families to work with them and ensure that they have the support and welfare around them that they need.”
Chapman added they expected charges would be laid against the 58-year-old bus driver.
“He is under arrest, him being the driver of a motor vehicle collision where there have been fatal injuries and there will be charges pending,” she said.
“I’ve already said that it’s a tragic set of circumstances. The number of family … But the broader community who will be impacted by this, you couldn’t count.
“From a policing perspective, our role is to make sure that we undertake a full and thorough investigation to ensure that some comfort may be given to the public at the conclusion of that process,” Chapman said.
The driver of the bus was taken to hospital under police guard for mandatory testing and assessment.
Wedding guests who spent the day celebrating were told of the tragedy and left completely shaken.
“It was a nice day, a pretty good wedding … fairy tale stuff really, it was a nice day, and we went to come back and get drunk, and we got the news that there had been a crash, and we all started panicking,” a witness told 7NEWS.
A senior NSW Ambulance officer told 7NEWS the magnitude of the accident had been confronting.
“Whilst they are paramedics every day of their lives, something like this is not a job that they go to every day,” she said.
All Australians waking up to tragic news from the Hunter send our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of those killed in this horrific bus tragedy.
For a day of joy to end in such devastating loss is cruel indeed.
Our thoughts are also with those who have been injured.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 11, 2023
“I’m incredibly proud of all the paramedics that attended. They did a fantastic job under the circumstances and no doubt they will be reflecting and we will have the right support there for them.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said “all Australians waking up send their deepest sympathies to the loved ones of those killed in this horrific bus tragedy.
“For a day of joy to end in such devastating loss is cruel indeed. Our thoughts are also with those who have been injured,” he said.
Albanese went on to thank first responders later on Monday morning.
“Those who arrived at this terrible scene just … I cannot imagine what they were confronted with, what they had to deal with, but they did as they always do, their job,” he told reporters.
“They did their best looking after people, trying to do their best to save lives and to assist in the recovery at this horrific scene.
“To them, to the doctors and nurses, to the police and emergency services, to those who transported the injured to hospital, I say once again, ‘thank you’.”
Albanese added the thoughts of all Australians went out to the family, friends and loved ones of those who died in “such horrific circumstances”.
“All of us know the joy of going to a wedding … weddings are some of the happiest times you can have,” he said.
“For a joyous day like that to end in such terrible loss of life and injury is so cruel and so sad and so unfair.
”People hire a bus for weddings in order to keep the guests safe, and that just adds to the unimaginable nature of this tragedy.”
A crime scene was established and police, paramedics and firefighters remained on the scene overnight.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has commenced.
Road closures and diversions are in place.
Wine Country Drive remains closed between New England Highway and Bridge St, along with northbound and southbound off-ramps from the Hunter Express to Wine Country Drive.
Motorists are urged to avoid the area.
Due to the nature of the crash, the NSW Transport Management Centre said there was no forecast for how long the road will be closed.
Police are appealing to the public for help to identify the crash victims and contact their next of kin.7news