Chilling audio emerges of the frantic emergency response after at least 10 wedding guests were killed in horror bus crash: ‘Major incident declared’
- Chilling audio of crash
- Ten wedding guests killed
Chilling audio from emergency scanners has emerged revealing the devastating scenes first responders encountered after a bus returning from a ‘fairytale’ wedding crashed in NSW killing at least 10 people.
The coach was travelling from the Wandin Estate winery wedding venue in the Hunter Valley wine region when it rolled at a roundabout 11:30pm on Sunday.
It’s understood the area was blanketed in heavy fog at the time of the crash and the roundabout on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway off ramp in Greta, 12km away from the estate, was under construction.
Of the 39 passengers, at least 10 people were killed, 11 has to be airlifted or taken by ambulance to hospital while the remaining wedding guests were uninjured.
At least 10 people have died after the bus they were travelling in from the Wandin Estate winery wedding venue in Hunter Valley Wine region crashed (pictured)
Emergency services including ambulance, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Rural Fire Service, police and Highway Patrol rushed to the crash site after receiving a chilling Triple-0 call.
‘Major incident declared. We have a bus roll over. Multiple patients,’ a first responder is heard in audio from a triple-0 call shared by Today.
‘At this stage we have identified seven, I repeat, seven code fours.’
‘We have one red label patient whose injuries are severe. And unfortunately, we are expecting that is also going to code four.
‘We have multiple red and orange label patients at this stage. I need all resources allocated to continue. I’m still trying to work out exactly how many patients I have here.’
‘Code four’ refers to a patient that has died, while ‘red label’ means the patient is critical, and ‘orange label’ signifies a patient in a serious condition.
The death toll is expected to climb to as high as 15 people, with the critically injured including those who have lost limbs taken to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, the largest trauma hospital in the region.
Two people were reportedly airlifted to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney for life-saving surgery.
The uninjured bus driver, a 58-year-old man, was taken to hospital under police guard for mandatory blood and alcohol testing.
Acting assistant commissioner Tracey Chapman said on Monday morning the driver was currently being interviewed at Cessnock Police Station, and ‘charges are pending’.
‘He was the driver of a motor vehicle in which multiple fatalities have occurred…there are charges pending,’ Ms Chapman said.
‘It’s a tragic set of circumstances, the number of family members, and wider community, who will be impacted by this, we couldn’t count.’
Specialist forensic police and the Crash Investigations Unit have established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was cruel for a day of joy to end with devastating loss.
Mr Albanese also gave his condolences to all those involved in the horror crash.
‘All Australians waking up to tragic news from the Hunter send our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of those killed in this horrific bus tragedy,’ Mr Albanese wrote on Twitter.
‘For a day of joy to end in such devastating loss is cruel indeed.’
More to come
