Ten people are dead and 11 people have been rushed to hospital after a bus rolled while carrying dozens of guests after a wedding on Sunday night.
A bus returning from a Hunter Valley wedding has crashed on a roundabout near the Hunter Expressway, killing at least 10 people and injuring more.
The tragedy occurred at the roundabout on Wine Country Drive, near the Hunter Expressway off ramp, at Greta about 11.30pm on Sunday – with an off-duty paramedic who happened to be passing by the first on the scene.
He was soon joined by NSW Ambulance paramedics and NSW Police who found a total of 37 passengers in need of treatment.
It is believed those on board had attended a wedding in the area on Sunday.
“It was a nice day, a pretty good wedding… fairy tale stuff really, it was a nice day, and we went to come back and get drunk, and we got the news that there had been a crash, and we all started panicking,” a guest told 7NEWS.
Emergency crews at today’s horrific bus crash scene. Picture: Carey Harris
Emergency services at the scene overnight. Picture: 7News
Footage from the scene showed the bus completely on its side Picture: 9 News
The tragedy prompted a huge emergency response. Picture: ABC News
In a statement, NSW Police said initial inquiries indicate 10 people have died.
Seven medi-helicopters joined an armada of ambulances, police cars and fire crews at the scene, treating 11 people for injuries at the scene before transporting them to hospital.
The passengers had boarded a 57-seat coach after a day of wedding festivities at Wandin Estate Winery in the world famous wine region.
The driver of the bus – a 58-year-old man – was taken to hospital under police guard for mandatory testing and assessment.
Footage from the scene showed the bus completely on its side, with several smashed windows including the front windscreen.
A patient is evacuated to hospital. Picture: 7 News
Paramedics respond to a patient. Picture: ABC News
Police command centre at the scene. Picture: ABC News
Police sources said some passengers thrown from their seats during the crash were trapped under the bus.
Others had limbs severed in the crash.
NSW Fire and Rescue crews used their specialist machinery to lift the bus up, enabling those trapped to be freed.
Patients were taken to multiple hospitals around the state, including John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.
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The mayor of Cessnock, Jay Suvaal, said news of the fatal crash was “truly horrific”.
“It’s something that no one wants to wake up to. My thoughts are obviously with the people involved in the accident but their family and friends, as well as the first responders on scene, because it must have been truly horrible for them as well,” he told Nine’s Today program.
“We are a major wedding and tourist destination in the Hunter Valley, and so there will be people from all over the state and the country that have been to these areas and have probably done similar things. I think it will send shockwaves right through the broader community.
“The community, we are a close-knit community and there’ll be massive showings of support I imagine throughout the day.”
‘Ssomething that no one wants to wake up to’…. Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal
A crime scene has been established, which will be examined by specialist forensic police and the Crash Investigation Unit.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has commenced.
All northbound and southbound off-ramps from Hunter Expressway to Wine Country Drive remain closed.
Northbound motorists can use Lovedale rd to access Wine Country Dr (suitable for all vehicles), and Southbound motorists can use New England Hwy, Clift St, and Bridge St to access Wine Country Dr.
Heavy vehicles travelling southbound wishing to access Wine Country Drive have been advised to use Hermitage Rd and Broke Rd