The mother of the wedding emcee who was caught up in the bus crash that killed 10 guests has revealed how her son was ‘covered in other people’s blood’.
Alex Tigani was riding with 35 wedding guests on the bus back from the Wandin Estate Winery, in the Hunter Valley, when it rolled at a roundabout at 11:30pm on Sunday.
It’s understood the area was blanketed in heavy fog when the bus crashed at the roundabout on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp in Greta, 12km away from the estate.
At least 10 people were killed in the horror crash with a further 21 people currently in hospital.
Local reporter Alex Tigani (pictured) was the master of ceremonies at the wedding. He told his mum he was ‘covered in people’s blood’ after the bus he was travelling, along with about 40 other wedding guests, crashed
Photos from inside the reception show the newlyweds cutting into their cake as a live band plays in the background and Tigani speaks to the crowd
Mr Tigani, who is the Deputy Editor at the Hunter River Times, called his mum Loretta Tigani at about 3am ‘very upset’ after seeing his friends killed in the crash.
‘They’re monitoring him for concussion, he was covered with other people’s blood,’ Ms Tigani told The Herald Sun.
Ms Tigani said her son described the tragic accident ‘like a war scene’ with those seated on the left-hand side of the bus suffering horrible injuries.
‘He was very emotional because he’s seen a lot of his mates die. It’s a small town so everybody knows each other,’ she said.
‘He said it was like a war scene, it was devastating. People on the left side of the bus are the ones that are hurt badly because that’s the side that it landed on.’
Mr Tigani explained guests who survived the ordeal did their best to drag the most injured victims to safety amid the carnage.
It’s understood Mr Tigani knew the bride and groom through his work and the local sporting scene in Singleton.
The local reporter is among the injured victims currently recovering at John Hunter Hospital.
One patient is in a critical condition, while the remainder are stable, NSW Premier Chris Minns said earlier on Monday.
The coach carrying about 40 passengers was travelling from the Wandin Estate winery wedding venue in the Hunter Valley wine region (pictured) when it rolled at a roundabout on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway off ramp in Greta, 12km away
Photos from inside the reception show the newlyweds cutting into their cake as a live band plays in the background and Mr Tigani speaks to the crowd.
Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney, who is a member of the local Singleton Roosters football club, tied the knot at Wandin Valley Estate in the Hunter Valley on Sunday afternoon.
The couple were married out on the pontoon overlooking a lake as the sun shone down, before all the guests gathered for a group photo in the gardens.
Ms Tigani said she was aware the devastated newlyweds were recovering in a hotel after learning 10 of their guests died in the crash.
Police said 11 passengers initially had to be airlifted or taken by ambulance to hospital while 25 others were rushed to hospital with varying injuries following one of Australia’s deadliest road accidents in decades.
Some of the stable victims in hospitals across the state have since provided witness statements to investigators, who are still working to determine exactly what went wrong.
The bus driver, a 58-year-old man, is currently under arrest at Cessnock Police Station and police say ‘charges are pending’.
10 of their guests were tragically killed when the shuttle bus rolled, with a further 25 people taken to hospital for treatment
It is feared more may be dead and still trapped under the wreckage as the salvage operation continues
Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said there was ‘sufficient information’ for police to press charges on the bus driver who is currently under arrest in Cessnock Police Station where he is being interviewed by detectives.
‘He’s been the driver of a motor vehicle collision where there have been fatal injuries and there will be charges pending,’ Assistant Commissioner Chapman said.
The bodies of those who have died have not yet been removed from the scene where the bus is still lying on its side.
It is feared more may be dead and still trapped under the wreckage as the salvage operation continues. Police said no children were on board.
Police are still working to identify the crash victims and contact their next of kin.
The most critically injured including those with lost limbs were taken to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, the largest trauma hospital in the region.
Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman (pictured) said there was ‘sufficient information’ to press charges on the bus driver who is currently under arrest in Cessnock Police Station
One person is said to be fighting for their life there while a further eight are in a stable condition.
Two people were airlifted to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney for life-saving surgery and they are now in a stable condition.
Family and friends of anyone who may have been on board the bus are urged to contact Cessnock Police Station on 02 4991 0199.
Witnesses – or anyone with any information about the crash – are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to keep the line to Cessnock Police Station clear for concerned family members.
