Ten people were killed and 25 were wounded in a bus disaster in Australia’s wine region. Guests of Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell’s wedding at the Wandin Estate Winery in Lovedale, Hunter Valley, were returning to their accommodations when the event took place. One guest said it started off as a “fairy-tale wedding,” but things swiftly went downhill.
Police said the crash occurred in the early morning hours on Wine Country Drive in Greta, New South Wales, near a roundabout. The driver, aged 58, has been apprehended and is being detained at a Cessnock police station pending prosecution.
Police Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said that there were around 40 people on board the bus when it crashed on its way to Singleton. The deep fog made it difficult, if not impossible, to see what was in front of witnesses, according to the DailyMail.
The state administration reported on Monday that 21 of the 25 wounded were still getting medical care in hospitals, with one patient in severe condition. All other passengers, a total of 18 people, were either uninjured or recovered quickly.
According to Perth Now Anthony Albanese, the prime minister, thanked the emergency workers and promised help for the victims and their relatives. The psychological damage from such an ordeal, he said, would take time to heal. He told the media, “It’s heartbreaking and unfair that such a happy day ended in such a tragic loss of life and injuries.” Mr. Albanese said that this tragedy is all the more inconceivable since buses are often used for weddings to protect the safety of attendees.
Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal described the tragedy as “truly horrific,” capturing the community’s shock and sadness. The venue was devastated by the incident and reached out to help its visitors. A representative of the venue has expressed sympathy to the victims’ loved ones and assured them of the venue’s full support during this trying period.
