Hunter bus accident: Driver Brett Button gets bail for wedding that left 10 dead and 14 injured

The driver of a bus full of wedding guests that rolled into a roundabout, killing 10 and injuring 25, has been released on bail.

Brett Andrew Button, 58, was charged with 11 offences, including 10 counts of dangerous driving resulting in death, over Sunday’s tragic collision in the NSW Hunter Valley.

He appeared in handcuffs Tuesday morning before the local Cessnock court, where a police prosecutor strongly opposed bail on the grounds that it would “contrary to community norms”.

The PRosecutor told the court there was a strong prosecution case and said witnesses testified about driving.

“There are 10 witnesses who testified in regards to Mr Button’s longstanding behavior and dangerous driving,” she said.

‘This caused the passengers to fasten their seatbelts’, the fact sheet states.’

She said as many as 15 other charges of causing grievous bodily harm could be added, claimed a prison sentence if found guilty, and expressed concern that he could obstruct witnesses if released on bail.

But bail was granted after Button’s lawyer Chris O’Brien said he’strong community ties and a number of medical conditions’.

He said Button has led an “exemplary life” and is respected in the community.

He argued that there would be a six-month delay and that bail conditions would reduce the prosecution’s risks.

Magistrate Robyn Richardson described the allegations as ‘very serious’ and said that while the main concern was Button’s failure to appear in court, bail should not be treated as a way of punishing individuals before their sentence has been determined.

“Mr Button has sat here with his head bowed and it is clear he is suffering,” she said.

“I do worry about his well-being and mental health and the harsh conditions that would be imposed on him in a prison environment.”

She granted him a warrant of arrest at his address and imposed bail conditions, including an 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew, and requirements to report to the police 3 days a week, surrender his passport, and not drive.

The court also heard that Button has seven traffic violations over a 30-year period, but has no criminal record.

There were tense off-court scenes as Button’s family pushed past reporters after heaving a collective and audible sigh of relief as bail was granted.

A male relative pushed a cameraman away as supporters, including Button’s wife, daughter and two sons, left the building before some took off in a blue ute.

Button appeared in court when Victorian woman Darcy Bulman was identified as the 10th wedding guest to die in the crash.

She attended the wedding at the Wandin Valley Estate with her partner, whose condition is unknown.

Survivors claimed Button shudderingly bragged to those on board moments before he allegedly lost control of the vehicle.

Flowers now mark the spot where the bus, with 35 guests on board, crashed at about 11.30pm on Sunday at a roundabout just 6 miles into its journey.

Button is said to have told passengers “if you think that was fast…look at this” through the vehicle’s internal microphone before the bus pulled up at the Hunter Expressway exit in Greta, 114 miles north of Sydney, rolled.

Passengers reportedly expressed concern about the speed at which the bus was traveling and urged others to remain in their seats for safety. Daily telegram reported.

Button was charged with 11 offenses on Monday, including 10 counts of dangerous driving resulting in death, dangerous driving and negligent driving (causing death).

Guests had spent the day celebrating Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney’s wedding at the picturesque Wandin Valley Estate before the horror hit.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash and found 10 bodies in the mutilated wreckage in addition to 25 guests who were injured, two of them critical.

On Tuesday morning, 14 people are still in hospital.

Assistant Commissioner David Wardell said the driver was speeding as he entered the roundabout.

“He lost control of that vehicle and it fell on its left side, onto a guardrail,” he told a news conference Tuesday morning.

Assistant Commissioner Wardell said the passengers on the bus were all adults between the ages of 20 and 60, some from the area and others from the Interstate.

He added that 25 passengers were treated for a range of injuries, including cuts, fractures and fractures.

Some police officers are visibly shaken. It was a very chaotic scene,” he said.

NSW Police will use the disaster victim identification process to identify the bodies found in the wreckage, which could take several days or even weeks.

On Tuesday morning, 14 people are still in hospital.

Seven of the dead are said to be from the nearby town of Singleton.

They include Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen, mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride, and Kyah’s friend Kane Symons.

Married couple Andrew and Lynan Scott, from Singleton, were also killed in the crash. They appear to have two children.

Angus Craig of Queensland and Zachary Bray of Byron Bay are also among the dead, as is Melbourne’s Darcy Bulman.

Zach Bray’s uncle was shocked by his cousin’s death in the bus crash.

“My cousin Zach Bray died in the Cessnock bus accident last night,” said Zach’s uncle Martin Bray.

“All my friends and family (are) in shock at the loss of such a beautiful young man.”

Daily Mail Australia confirmed on Monday that Brandon Stafford, a groomsman who had traveled from Victoria for the wedding, was among those injured.

Their emcee, local reporter Alex Tigani, is recovering at John Hunter Hospital.

He revealed that the crash resembled “a war scene” and that he was covered in “other people’s blood” after rolling.

A family of three, consisting of an elderly couple and their adult son, are also being treated for injuries at John Hunter Hospital and are all expected to survive.

The bus lay on its side for most of Monday while police investigated before being lifted back to its upright position with the help of a tow truck.

Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said the bus crashed in the first 10 minutes of a 35-minute journey to the Singleton guesthouse.

“It’s a tragic turn of events. The number of family members, but the wider community, affected by this is beyond counting,” she said.