A “fairytale” wedding left ten dead and 25 wounded after a bus carrying guests crashed in Australia on Monday night, according to local police.
The bus was transporting 53 wedding attendees to their hotels following the reception, the New York Post reports. The vehicle reportedly crashed at a roundabout shortly after 11:30 p.m.
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“Fairytale” Wedding Ends With 10 Dead, 25 Injured, Bus Driver Arrested
The driver, described by authorities as a 59-year-old man, was arrested at the scene.
However, New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman did not immediately specify what the charges would be.
Chapman also refused to confirm whether speeding was a factor in the bus crash, coupled with reports of a foggy road.
The only thing she would confirm is that there was “sufficient information for us to establish that there will be charges,” according to the Associated Press.
The guests had attended the wedding at the Wandin Estate Winery in New South Wales.
At least ten wedding guests killed in bus crash in New South Wales, Australia.
Find more: https://t.co/8xyWy2cBPY pic.twitter.com/rxDE3p6taV
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 12, 2023
Authorities say the wedding bus flipped en route to the nearby town of Singleton.
The 25 injured were taken to local hospitals by helicopter and emergency vehicles, per the Post.
Meanwhile, another 18 passengers and guests of the wedding were not injured in the single-vehicle crash.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has since offered Australian support for the victims and their families. Albanese spoke on the juxtaposition of the joyous occasion coupled with “such terrible loss of life.”
“For a joyous day like that, in a beautiful place, to end with such terrible loss of life and injury is so cruel and so sad and so unfair,” Albanese said.
Driver charged after Australia’s worst bus accident in decades kills 10 wedding guests https://t.co/XEzP2Z0Z3Q pic.twitter.com/dvdDHRsi4z
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) June 12, 2023
Albanese noted the cruel irony of the bus crashing, even though they were specifically hired to keep guests safe from drinking and driving after the reception.
“People hire a bus for weddings in order to keep their guests safe. And that just adds to the unimaginable nature of this tragedy,” he said.
The fatal crash took place in a Vineland-filled area that is a popular destination for weddings, the Post reports.
Meanwhile, a video posted after the crash shows nearby residents leaving flowers at the site of the deadly crash to honor the victims.
Reuters reports that it is Australia’s worse bus crash in decades.
