Hunter Valley bus crash: two young children are orphaned after a marital tragedy
As families rack up the cost of the NSW Hunter Valley bus crash, one in particular has endured an unimaginable tragedy, with two young children left orphaned after both their parents died in the accident.
Lynan Scott and her husband Andrew Scott were both killed in the crash, leaving behind two children under the age of five.
Mrs. Scott was a mining engineer who worked for Yancoal, the same company as groom Mitchell Gaffney, whose marriage to Maddy Edsell preceded the tragic crash.
She was also good friends with another accident victim, Tori Cowburn, who was also killed when the Linq bus rolled onto a highway near Greta just 10 miles after leaving the Wandin Winery Estate venue after the wedding.
Bus driver Brett Button has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving resulting in death and was granted bail on Tuesday when he stood before Cessnock local court.
Attorney Christopher O’Brien said outside court that the 58-year-old was “doing well”.
“I’ve talked to my client,” Mr. O’Brien said. “He’s happy to go home. In all circumstances it does quite well.’
Lynan and Andrew Scott welcomed their second child just under two years ago, having met more than a decade ago.
Lynan and Andrew Scott (above, pictured with their two young children) were tragically killed in the bus crash at the Hunter Valley wedding on Sunday night, leaving their two children orphans
The couple have been married for the past few years, met more than a decade ago and recently had two young children
Originally from Brisbane, Andrew Scott is a former YMCA lifeguard and landscaper turned hospital and health worker. He was working for NSW Health in Muswellbrook at the time of his death.
Lynan Scott, formerly Lynan Muldoon from a large family in Grafton, NSW, is an engineer from Queensland University.
Before moving to Yancoal as a planning superintendent, she had worked at the Bengalla mining company and Rio Tinto.
Her motto on her Instagram page is ‘Give it all you’ve got’. Her Facebook page has now turned into a memorial page, with a post asking friends or family to share memories.
Seven of the people killed in the crash are from the town of Singleton, 20 miles from the wedding venue, where the bride and groom Mrs Edsell and Mr Gaffney also live.
Tori Cowburn, a proud aunt of her brother’s daughter and his wife, who both live in Singleton, leaves behind a partner.
Andrew and Lynan Scott (above) were friends with another tragic guest and Mrs. Scott worked at the same coal company as the groom, Mitchell Gaffney
Lynan Scott worked at Yancoal with groom Mitchell Gaffney (above, with his bride Maddy Edsell) pictured hours before the tragic crash that killed ten of their wedding guests
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 appeared to be fingering photographers outside Cessnock police station (above)
Bus driver Brett Button appears to be giving the media a middle finger (right) as he is released from Cessnock police station on Tuesday, about 36 hours after rolling the coach onto a guardrail
Rebecca ‘Bec’ Mullen was mourned on Facebook by her fiancé, local Singleton Roosters AFL club member and financial planner Sam Duncan.
Another family devastated by three deaths is the McBride family, who lost mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride and Kyah’s boyfriend, Kane Symons.
Angus Craig of Queensland and Zachary Bray of Byron Bay are also among the dead, as is Darcy Bulman of Victoria.
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.
Lynan Scott (above with her eldest son) was tragically killed with her husband in the Sunday night bus crash after being a guest at the wedding of her colleague, Mitchell Gaffney
Lynan Scott’s friend, Tori Cowburn (above, [pictured with her niece) also died in the horror bus crash which police will allege occurred because the driver was speeding
Eight players from Victoria’s Warrandyte Cricket Club and five of their partners are injured, including Brandon Stafford, a third grade cricket XI captain, and the injuries include broken collar bones and a broken jaw.
All the players and their partners are expected to recover.
As well as facing ten counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, Button has been charged with drive manner dangerous and negligent driving causing death.
After sobbing as he sat handcuffed before a magistrate on Tuesday morning the bus driver was freed on bail.
Walking out of the police station seemingly without a scratch, Button appeared to flash the middle finger of his right hand at the media as he walked past the cameras.
Earlier, there was a scuffle outside court as family members and supporters emerged following Button’s brief hearing.
Acting Assistant NSW Police Commissioner David Waddell said on Tuesday that police will allege the driver entered the roundabout in a ‘manner that was inconsistent with the conditions’.
‘Obviously, the speed was too quick for him to negotiate that roundabout, causing the vehicle to fall onto its left side and cause those injuries,’ he said.