Australia: 10 killed, 11 rushed to hospital after bus crashes in Hunter Valley

At least ten people were killed and 11 others were injured when a wedding bus rolled off a road in the Hunter Valley region of Australia’s New South Wales late on Sunday night, according to Australia-based media. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, police were involved.

Overnight, emergency crews worked at the crash site on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Motorway off-ramp in Greta. In a statement, police said that preliminary investigations revealed that ten people had died, with 11 people transported to hospitals by helicopter and road. According to the report, 18 passengers escaped unharmed.

According to police, emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 11:30 p.m. (local time) after reports that a coach had rolled. Wine Country Drive is closed in both directions between the New England Highway and the Bridge Street roundabout in Huntlee as part of a large-scale emergency operation.
According to the news report, the bus driver was taken to the hospital under police guard for mandatory testing and assessment. The injured victims were transported by road and air to a number of Hunter Valley hospitals, including the John Hunter Hospital in New Lambton Heights and the Mater Hospital in Waratah.

A crime scene has been established, which will be examined by forensic officers and the Crash Investigation Unit on Monday, the report added.

Speaking to Nine’s Today program, Jay Suvaal said, “It’s something that no one wants to wake up to,” according to The Sydney Morning Herald report. He further said, “My thoughts are obviously with the people involved in the accident, but their family and friends, as well as the first responders on the scene because it must have been truly horrible for them as well.”