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Nine people still in hospital one week on from the Hunter Valley bus crash. Here's what we know so far

11:25 am on 18 June 2023

Flowers are left at the scene of the bus crash. Photo: SAEED KHAN / AFP

Nine people remain in hospital a week after a deadly bus crash in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, which claimed the lives of 10 people.

The tragedy, which is Australia's worst road accident in about three decades, has sent shock waves across the country.

Hit particularly hard is the town of Singleton, home to about 25,000 people, where a number of those who died had lived.

Here is what we know so far.

Sunday night

News of the bus crash began to filter through on Monday morning, after police announced 10 people had died and multiple others were injured at Greta about 11:30pm on Sunday.

"We're still waiting for further details to come to light as the investigations continue. We don't know the circumstances around the crash at the moment," Cessnock mayor Jay Suvaal told ABC News Breakfast on Monday.

It was soon determined there were 36 people on the bus, including the driver, and they were travelling to Singleton from a wedding at winery Wandin Estate.

Police said the coach rolled on a roundabout near the Hunter Expressway.

At the time, there were concerns the death toll would rise, with 25 people initially hospitalised across John Hunter, Calvary Mater and Maitland hospitals, and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

The bus driver, 58-year-old Brett Andrew Button, was taken to hospital and then to Cessnock Police Station under arrest.

This frame grab taken from video footage provided by the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC) on 12 June via AFPTV shows the site of a bus crash where 10 people from a wedding party were killed. Photo: AFP PHOTO / ABC

Later that night, there were 14 people in hospital still receiving care for their injuries.

Outpouring of support

Leaders began responding on Monday morning as the country woke to the news.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio Newcastle the deadly bus crash was a "terrible, terrible tragedy".

"[Especially] on the June long weekend, which is a time when people are celebrating and having time off," he said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns visited John Hunter Hospital, where multiple passengers were taken after the crash, on Monday.

"The tragic loss of so many lives in a bus crash last night in the Hunter is nothing short of heartbreaking," he said.

"To those injured and those who have lost loved ones, the thoughts of our state are with you."

Driver granted bail

Bus driver Brett Andrew Button was charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, drive manner dangerous, and negligent driving (occasioning death).

He appeared in court on Tuesday and was granted bail with strict conditions.

The court heard 10 witnesses had given evidence about "prolonged dangerous driving" before the fatal crash.

Magistrate Robyn Richardson acknowledged a "strong" prosecution case for the 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death.

But she said refusing an accused bail was not to be used as a "punishment".

The 58-year-old broke down sobbing when the magistrate made her decision.

Identities revealed

The identities of all 10 wedding guests who died in the crash have been confirmed.

Half of them were members of the Singleton Roosters AFL club, including mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride.

Nadene coached the Singleton Roosterettes and her daughter played in the team.

Andrew Scott and his wife Lynan lived in Singleton and both played for the Singleton Roosters, alongside the bride and groom.

Tasmanian man Kane Symons, in his 20s, had been living in Singleton at the time.

Rebecca Mullen, a junior medical officer at Newcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital was among the fatalities.

So too was Darcy Bulman, Zach Bray, Tori Cowburn and Angus Craig.

Community responds

In the days following the crash, the Hunter Valley community was still trying to process the loss.

Many people began leaving tributes, cards and flowers near the crash site.

Churches opened their doors in Singleton, Branxton, Cessnock and the cathedral in Newcastle to offer space to those who wanted to grieve.

The Maitland Saints Australian Football Club launched a blood-donation drive on Wednesday to help support the reeling local community.

An online appeal by the Singleton Roosters to raise money for the victims and their families received more than AUD$120,000 in donations in less than 24 hours.

It was soon closed after a new fund was announced, co-managed by the state government and Rotary Australia.

It raised more than AUD$260,000 in two days, with a AUD$100,000 commitment from the government yet to be added to the tally.

Hundreds of people also gathered in near-darkness by the site of the bus crash on Thursday night to remember those who died.

Investigation ongoing

While a week has passed since the bus crash, the horrific incident is still very raw in the minds of people in the Hunter Valley and beyond.

The police investigation is ongoing and expected to take some time.

On Thursday, police inspectors joined regulatory heavy vehicle inspectors examining buses from the company linked to the deadly crash, Linq Buslines.

Police told the ABC seven defect notices were issued, including one major defect in a bus with a cracked windscreen.

In a statement, the bus company said the one major defect found had been rectified and the minor defects were also being rectified in accordance with timelines set by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Button's next court appearance is on 9 August at Newcastle Local Court.

This story was originally published on ABC.