The company at the centre of the Hunter Valley bus tragedy has been issued with seven defect and two infringement notices after police raided two of its depots on Thursday, finding a coach with a cracked windscreen and another with faulty seatbelts.
NSW Police investigators and inspectors from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator inspected 20 buses at two of Linq Buslines’ depots at Wyong on the Central Coast and East Gresford near Newcastle.
NSW Police inspected 20 buses at two of Linq Buslines’ depots.Credit: Nick Moir
Its 2009 Volvo B7R bus was being driven by 58-year-old Brett Andrew Button on Sunday night when it crashed and rolled on Wine Country Drive in the Hunter Valley, killing 10 and injuring dozens of passengers. On Thursday night nine people remained in a stable condition in hospital.
Of the 20 buses inspected, police issued seven defect notices, which require an owner to amend a problem before the vehicle can be driven. The nature of the defects are unclear, but no buses were grounded.
Police also reported finding “a cracked windscreen, oil leaks, inoperative seatbelts and vehicle lights and insecure seats” across the fleet of 20 buses.
Police issued Linq with two infringement notices – one for the use of a heavy vehicle that contravened standards, and another for the use of a heavy vehicle with defective seating.
Brett Button leaves Cessnock police station on Tuesday.Credit: Janie Barrett
A Linq spokesperson said: “The one major defect identified in the fleet has been rectified and the minor defects are being rectified in accordance with the timelines set by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.”
Button was charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, and one count of negligent driving occasioning death late on Monday. He faced court on Tuesday and was granted conditional bail.