A 58-year-old wedding bus driver has appeared in an Australian court, charged with dangerous driving that caused the deaths of ten guests.
Brett Andrew Button allegedly drove "too quick" in what were believed to be foggy conditions just before midnight on Sunday, which caused Australia's deadliest road accident in 16 years.
Moments earlier, the passengers had been celebrating the wedding of a young couple at the nearby Wandin Estate Winery in Australia's picturesque Hunter Valley wine region.
Another passenger later died in hospital.
Fourteen guests are still hospitalised, including one in intensive care.
A local man, Mr Button appeared in Cessnock court, head bowed throughout the proceedings, prompting magistrate Robyn Richardson to express concern.
"I see here before me a man suffering," she said, granting bail on the condition that Mr Button does not approach prosecution witnesses or get behind the wheel of a vehicle.
"I do have concerns for Mr Button's well-being," she said.
Those who died are said to be aged between 20 and 60 years. Besides those killed, passengers suffered injuries ranging from lacerations to fractures.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Police say they are still piecing together their investigation.
Officers have said that initial alcohol testing came back negative, but they pointed blame at "erratic" speeding that some passengers had reportedly complained about before the crash.
"We've obviously now charged that 58-year-old bus driver, we've charged him with 11 charges," said Acting assistant police commissioner David Waddell.
"He entered that roundabout in a manner that was inconsistent with the conditions," he added.
"Obviously, the speed was too quick for him to negotiate that roundabout, causing the vehicle to fall on its left side, and causing those injuries."
The crash has caused widespread shock, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leading condolences to the victims.
"For a joyous day like that in a beautiful place to end with such terrible loss of life and injury is so cruel and so sad and so unfair," he said.
