Hunter Valley bus crash updates: Driver Brett Button told passengers to ‘fasten your seatbelts’ moments before crash, court hears; NSW Police continue to identify victims

Bus driver charged over crash ‘a good family man’: neighbour

Hunter Valley bus driver Brett Button has arrived at his home near Maitland after being released on bail this afternoon.

He arrived in a white car which pulled directly into the driveway at about 2pm. Family members ushered him out of the passenger seat and into the house through the garage door.

Button remained under his black hoodie and stayed silent as he exited the vehicle.

Asked if they wanted to say anything, another man travelling with Button nodded vigorously but did not speak.

Neighbours reported having seen Linq Buslines buses occasionally parked near the home. The company owns the coach involved in Sunday night’s fatal crash.

“He’s a good family man,” one neighbour said. “They’re a pretty tight-knit family. They’ve got their family support and if they ask for something I can do I’ll probably say yes.”

Magistrate Robyn Richardson said earlier today it was a tragic incident and the 58-year-old man was obviously suffering.

“It’s clear to this court he suffers along with the rest of the community,” she said.

Federal parliament pauses to mark Hunter Valley bus tragedy

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have said Australians’ thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost loved ones in this week’s Hunter Valley bus crash.

Parliament has paused before question time to mark the tragedy.

The prime minister said it was harrowing that the accident occurred on a bus organised by the wedding hosts to keep their guests safe.

“We know that feeling of getting together with friends and family to celebrate the happy couple. To celebrate the love between two people and their declaration of spending a lifetime together,” Albanese said.

“The hard truth is that mental and emotional scars of this will not fade with time … Australians’ prayers are with you at what is an extraordinarily difficult and traumatic time.”

Dutton said: “As news of this disaster spread around the nation, I’m sure that for so many Australians their phone calls with family would have felt even more precious. Their embraces with loved ones would have been a little tighter.”

“This tragedy reinforces to all of us to never take our precious relationships for granted, to value the moments we have with families and with friends,” Dutton said. “To always cherish those closest to us because life can be unpredictably cruel.”

Hunter MP Dan Repacholi, who represents the electorate where the accident unfolded, said his community was in shock.

Passengers told ‘fasten your seatbelts’ before crash, court told

Hunter Valley bus driver Brett Button allegedly told his passengers to “fasten your seatbelts” moments before the crash that claimed 10 lives, a court has heard.

Button was granted bail earlier today after Magistrate Robyn Richardson said he was suffering along with the tight-knit community.

The 58-year-old, in tears, was led back to the police station next door to Cessnock Local Court so his family could surrender his passport, secure $10,000 and organise his transport home as part of his bail conditions.

The police prosecutor, who opposed the release on bail, told the court there were 10 witnesses who told police Button engaged in a “prolonged” period of unsafe driving.

“Fasten your seatbelts,” Button allegedly told the passengers, the court heard.

Court documents show Button is accused of ten counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, one for each deceased passenger, for a seven-minute window on Sunday evening.

He is further charged with one count of negligent driving occasioning death which is related to all the deaths together.

Button was red-eyed and emotional as he sat in court on Tuesday.

His family, equally emotional, sat behind him in the public gallery exhaling with relief when he was bailed.

Bus driver Brett Button walks free after being granted bail

Bus driver Brett Button has walked free from Cessnock police station after being granted bail this morning in court.

The 58-year-old, who lives near Maitland, was charged on Monday with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and one charge of negligent driving occasioning death.

Button was in tears and kept his head bowed when his lawyer successfully applied for bail in Cessnock Local Court.

He walked from the police station just before 1.30pm wearing a black hoodie and walked to a white car in the driveway where family members were waiting.

He made no comment and got into the front passenger seat before police escorted the car down the driveway on foot, keeping media cameras at bay.

Under his bail conditions, Button must report to police three times a week, surrender his passport, not go within five kilometres of any point of international departure, and remain at home between 8pm and 6am unless he is in the company of a relative.

He has also offered a $10,000 surety, must not contact any prosecution witness, must not take any drugs or alcohol, and must not occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle. The court heard police have already suspended his licence after the crash.

Button will face court again in Newcastle on August 9.

People urged to avoid unofficial crowdfunding pages for crash victims

Community members and well-wishers looking to donate to victims of the horror Hunter Valley bus crash have been warned to avoid unofficial fundraising pages that have appeared online.

Local newspaper The Hunter River Times posted the warning from its deputy editor Alex Tigani, who was master of ceremonies of the wedding and was injured in the accident.

“After Sunday’s tragedy there are multiple GoFundMe pages which are circulating on social media,” he wrote on the paper’s Facebook page.

“These are not official. The official GoFundMe page is currently being set up by the Singleton Roosters [football club]. We will share it on our page.”

Earlier, Tigani’s mother Loretta told News Corp her son had described the crash as a “war scene”.

Singleton ‘will rally around its own’: friend of injured man

A friend of local journalist Alex Tigani, who was the wedding’s emcee and on the bus that crashed on Sunday night, said the local community of Singleton will “rally around our own” following the devastating tragedy.

“I was able to speak to Alex yesterday when I found out that he was in hospital, he was being discharged. I have spoken to a mutual friend and Alex would appreciate privacy at this most difficult time,” Gerard McMillan told Nine’s Today program.

“Just imagine what he has gone through.

“Like everyone else, I was also shocked but I was relieved when I heard that Alex was in hospital and I was able to talk to him. To the families of those who are interstate, worrying about their loved ones here in the Hunter Valley, our thoughts and prayers go out to them as well.

“I know Singleton will rally around our own, and I know Australia will put their arms around those who are affected by this.”

McMillan said Tigani was “well known and respected” in the community and was a valued member of the local Rotary club.

Tigani’s mother told News Corp that her son was “covered in other people’s blood” and that the road resembled a war scene.

“We hope to be able to assist in some small way with ongoing medical expenses because the people who have gone through this accident, the trauma, the mental anguish they’ll have for years to come, the scars, they will remain,” McMillan said.

“Rotary is hoping to be able to assist in some small way with those ongoing medical bills.”

‘We’ve lost one of our own’: Health minister’s tribute to crash victim

Health Minister Ryan Park has extended his condolences to the family of junior doctor Rebecca Mullen, after confirming she was one of the passengers who died in the Hunter Valley bus crash.

“We’ve lost one of our own. Someone who was obviously going to have a long and illustrious career in medicine has been taken way too early,” Park said on Tuesday.

“This has made a very dark day even darker for NSW Health.”

Mullen was based at Calvary Mater Hospital within the Hunter New England Local Health District after graduating from the University of Newcastle in 2021.

Some of those injured in the bus crash were taken to the Mater as part of the large-scale emergency response. On Tuesday morning, one person remained at the hospital.

Others continue to receive treatment at Maitland Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, and John Hunter Hospital, where at least one person is in critical condition.

ASIC investigator Darcy Bulman among those unaccounted for after crash

Melbourne woman Darcy Bulman is among those unaccounted for following Sunday night’s bus crash in the Hunter Valley.

A spokesman for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission confirmed that Bulman was involved in the incident, but could not provide further details.

She had worked as an investigator in the financial regulator’s Collins Street office in Melbourne since late 2020 and previously worked at KPMG.

The ASIC spokesman said special counselling arrangements would be organised for her close colleagues.

A great bloke and a mate to many’

Kane Symons is another person unaccounted for after the Greta bus crash. A Tasmanian surf life saving club has published a tribute to “a great bloke and a mate to many”.

Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club president Christine Gaby posted on behalf of the Symons family, writing that the club’s hearts were broken and sent love and support to his family and friends.

“Kane, otherwise known as ‘Superman’ was an amazing athlete who competed at the highest level. But more than that he was a leader, a great bloke and a mate to many,” Gaby posted.

Many commented sharing their love for Symons and shared their condolences to the family.

“Such terrible news, Kane was one of those kids that knew how to have fun but also knew when he needed to be serious,” one person posted.

Bus driver in tears in court, will be released shortly

Brett Button, whose bus tipped over on Sunday night killing 10 people and injuring dozens more, will be released from police custody imminently after an emotional court hearing.

Magistrate Robyn Richardson granted Button bail as the 58-year-old’s family embraced in tears.

“The principle of law that operates in relation to bail is that bail is not to be denied as a punishment,” Richardson said.

Button was in tears and kept his head bowed through proceedings in Cessnock Local Court. He kept his head down as sheriffs led him through the back door of the court.

Richardson said it was clear that Button “suffers along with the rest of the community”.

His family and lawyer were swamped by media as Button was taken to the police station to be processed for release.

Speaking as he left court, solicitor Chris O’Brien said his client was pleased he had been granted bail.

“He’s happy to be going home, that’s all I have to say,” O’Brien said.

Media are gathered outside Cessnock police station ahead of Button’s release into the care of his family.

With Thanks Reference To : https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/hunter-valley-bus-crash-updates-nsw-police-continue-to-identify-victims-after-multiple-people-killed-driver-charged-20230612-p5dfyd.html