Australia bus accident: Driver went too fast, says police | World News

Brett Button drove 35 passengers from his wedding reception at Wandin Estate Winery to the town of Singleton in the NSW Hunter Valley wine region for 20 minutes. guardrail, killing 10 passengers.

A bus driver was driving too fast in a crash in Australia that killed 10 wedding guests and injured 25, police say.

Brett Button was arrested following a mandatory hospital examination and remained in police custody but was released on bail when he appeared at Cessnock Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

He appeared in court charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving in relation to the death and one count of negligent driving.

The 58-year-old was driving 35 passengers for 20 minutes from a wedding reception at Wandin Estate Winery to the town of Singleton in the NSW Hunter Valley wine region for 20 minutes when the 2009 Volvo bus rolled over and hit its side On the guardrail.

The crash occurred just after 11.30pm local time on Sunday in foggy conditions in the New South Wales town of Greta, about 112 miles (180 kilometers) north-west of Sydney.

Earlier, Acting Assistant Police Commissioner David Waddell called Patton “entering the roundabout in an ineligible manner”.

“Obviously, the speed was too high for him to get through that roundabout, causing the vehicle to veer to the left and causing injuries,” Mr Waddell told reporters.

Police said the bus driver underwent mandatory blood and urine drug and alcohol testing on Sunday night, but no injuries were found.

Of the 25 passengers who were taken to hospital, 14 have not yet been discharged, with two remaining in critical but stable condition in intensive care, Mr Waddell said.

The official also said the ages of the dead and injured ranged from their 20s to their 60s.

He declined to comment on media reports, saying Mr Barton had told passengers over the bus’s microphone shortly before the accident: “If you think that’s quick … watch this.”

Mr Wardle also declined to comment on reports that passengers were standing in the moments before the crash.

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Prosecutors said Barton could face further charges related to the serious injury survivor and opposed his release on bail.

However, Magistrate Robyn Richardson said his family ties and bail conditions – including that he did not drive and that he obeyed a curfew at his home in Maitland – could lower his chances of fleeing the country or interfering with witnesses. risk.

She also noted that a trial is unlikely before the end of 2024.

Patton sat with his head bowed throughout the short bail hearing, crying as it was noticed that he was apparently suffering along with other members of the community devastated by the crash.

Ms Richardson said there were concerns for his health.

She said the police statements made by the 10 passengers about Patton’s “prolonged conduct” before the crash constituted a strong prosecution case, without elaborating on the conduct.