ABC
Police allege the 58-year-old bus driver wasn’t driving to conditions when his bus crashed, killing 10 people on Sunday night in New South Wales’ Hunter region.
Facing the media on Tuesday morning, Acting Assistant Commissioner David Waddell described the crash as “a very chaotic scene”, with police continuing its “thorough” investigation of the crash.
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The bus, which was carrying 36 passengers including the driver, crashed at about 11.30pm after a wedding at Wandin Estate.
“[The driver] entered that roundabout driving in a manner that was inconsistent with the conditions.
“Obviously the speed was too quick for him to negotiate that roundabout, causing the vehicle to fall on its left side and cause those injuries.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner Waddell confirmed nine people died at the scene and one later in hospital.
A total of 25 passengers were taken to hospital with “a range of injuries” from “lacerations to breaks and fractures”, with 12 of those people since released. Two remain in the ICU.
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The driver has been charged will face court today.
“We’ve charged him with 11 charges; 10 of danger driving relating to the victims and one of neglect driving in relation to all 10 victims,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Waddell said.
The identities of those who died have not been confirmed at this stage, however Acting Assistant Commissioner Waddell said passengers were aged from 20s to 60s, and were both men and women, local and interstate.
“I see there’s been speculation of the identify of those 10 persons. We cannot confirm the identity of those 10 victims,” Superintendent Waddell said.
“We will work through that disaster victim identification process over the next few days.”
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