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The bus driver in the horror Hunter Valley smash that claimed the lives of 10 wedding guests has wept in court as it was revealed he told passengers to “fasten your seatbelts” before one of the country’s worst road disasters.
Brett Button, 58, was freed on bail after being charged with serious driving offences as families and communities grapple with their grief, emergency services work to formally confirm the identities of those killed and survivors begin painful recoveries.
Bus driver Brett Button leaves Cessnock Police Station after being granted bail. Credit: Janie Barrett
Button’s appearance at Cessnock Local Court came as tributes to the 10 passengers officially considered unaccounted for or killed in the crash flooded social media. Those believed killed in the crash include a junior medical officer with Hunter New England Local Health District, Rebecca Mullen, football mad mother and daughter Kyah and Nadene McBride and bowel cancer survivor Zach Bray.
Button did not say a word as he was released on bail, pulling his black hoodie down over his eyes as he marched from Cessnock police station through a barrage of news cameras and got into his son’s car.
“It is clear this is a man who is suffering along with the rest of this community,” Magistrate Robyn Richardson said as Button sat before her, head bowed, on Tuesday morning.
The police prosecutor, who opposed Button’s release, told the court there were 10 witnesses who said Button engaged in a “prolonged” period of unsafe driving.
“Fasten your seatbelts,” Button allegedly told the passengers, the court heard.
It had been two days since Button was arrested over the fatal crash on Sunday evening that plunged the Hunter Valley into mourning.
Button is from the Hunter Valley, like many of the 35 guests he picked up after a wedding.
The public gallery was filled with Button’s family, who were also in tears, which his lawyer said was a sign of his close community ties.
Court documents show Button is accused of 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, one for each dead 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.
The court heard those charges could be upgraded depending on the injuries of the survivors.
Police opposed Button’s release, saying they were concerned he may not appear in court as the allegations against him are so serious.
Ten people were killed in Sunday’s bus crash.Credit: Nine News
They are further concerned, the prosecutor told the court, that he could meddle with the investigation or witnesses. The magistrate refused to keep Button in custody.
“The principle of law that operates in relation to bail is that bail is not to be denied as a punishment,” Richardson said.
The town of Singleton was home to the bride and groom from Sunday’s wedding, Maddy Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney, and many of the guests. The local football club the Singleton Roosters is particularly connected to the tragedy.
Small wine country towns are hosting vigils and have established community outreach centres. A pop-in crisis centre has been set up in Singleton to provide information and support.
Representatives from NSW Health, the Red Cross, the Rural Adversity Mental Health program and Centrelink are at the Singleton Youth Venue near the town centre. It will be open for the rest of the week.
Labor MP Emily Suvaal at a community support centre set up Singleton Youth Venue. Credit: Rhett Wyman
Outside the centre on Tuesday afternoon, NSW upper house Labor MP Emily Suvaal said people were in the “initial stages of grief” and were generally consoling each other privately, but support would be there for whoever sought it.
“I think a lot of people are really in that process of trying to make sense of all that has gone on,” she said.
A similar centre was set up near the crash site in Branxton.
Singleton Baptist Church hosted a prayer vigil on Tuesday night and Premier Chris Minns will visit the community on Wednesday.
Federal parliament paused before question time on Tuesday to mark the tragedy.
“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,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
On arrival at his Maitland home after posting $10,000 bail and surrendering his passport, Button was silent.
His solicitor, Chris O’Brien, said the driver was pleased he had been granted bail.
Button arrives home after being granted bail on Tuesday.Credit: Rhett Wyman
“He’s happy to be going home, that’s all I have to say,” O’Brien said.
One neighbour described Button as a good family man. “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.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner David Waddell from NSW Police said nine people died at the scene, and one died in hospital.
“At the time of that initial response, it was quite chaotic for those attending police and other emergency services,” he said.
Waddell said the surviving passengers sustained “a whole range of injuries” and all were taken to hospital, with 12 since released.
“The injuries range from lacerations to breaks and fractures,” he said.
As of 6pm on Tuesday, nine patients remained in John Hunter Hospital, two in Maitland Hospital and two in Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW Health said. All were in stable condition.
NSW Police on Monday night removed the wreckage of the bus from the crash scene on Wine Country Drive. A growing number of floral tributes sat near the site of the crash.
The road reopened to traffic in both directions late on Tuesday night. A single lane close to the crash site was kept closed and a speed limit of 40 km/h was put in place.
Police will work “to ensure there will be safe pedestrian access to the site for the wider community to pay their respects” over the coming days.
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