UPDATE! Bus Driver Involved in Tragic Crash At Greta Granted Bail

BY IAN CROUCH/ OLIVIA DILLON

UPDATE:

The bus driver accused of causing the deaths of 10 people in a crash at Greta has been granted strict conditional bail.

58-year-old Brett Button has faced court in Cessnock.

Police argued Button should not be given bail based on community expectations, and warned he could be a flight risk.

His solicitor Chris O'Brien said he had a clean criminal record and only a handful of blemishes on his 30-year driving record.

The magistrate showed sympathy, telling the court it's clear Button is suffering with the rest of the community.

Mr. Button has had his license suspended, cannot drink alcohol while on bail, has said he will obey a curfew of 8:00pm to 6:00am, and will report three times a week to police. 

He has not yet entered pleas to his 11 charges.

He will face Newcastle Local Court on the 9th of August. 

EARLIER:

A 58-year-old man is due to face court today over the horrific bus crash at Greta which left 10 people dead and 25 injured.

Brett Andrew Button has been refused bail charged with 11 offences including 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death - drive manner dangerous and one count of negligent driving occasioning death.

35 people were on their way home from the wedding of Singleton couple Mitch Gaffney and Maddy Edsell at the Wandin Valley Estate on Sunday night when the bus driver allegedly lost control and crashed on the roundabout of Wine Country Drive and the Hunter Expressway.

Police are yet to formally identify all the victims.

Cessnock Mayor, Jay Suvaal says the community has been rocked by the tragedy.

"The thoughts of our community are with everyone that was involved in this accident, their friends, their loved ones, their family and we just want to make sure they're cared for and have the support now, and also thank our emergency services." he said

Th scene of the crash at Greta. Picture SMH

Meanwhile, Hunter New England Health has set up two drop-in clinics to provide support for family members, friends and loved ones of those who died or were injured in the crash.

The clinics will be staffed by disaster response, senior mental health clinicians and support services.

The first clinic will open at the Singleton Youth Venue at the corner of Bathurst and Pitt Streets at 9 o'clock on Tuesday morning.

The second will open at the Branxton Community Centre on Bowen Street from 10.00am

If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.