A bride and groom say they are 'processing this tragedy' after 10 of their wedding guests were killed in a bus crash

• A wedding bus crashed after leaving an Australian wedding, killing 10 guests who attended the event.
• The couple whose wedding the bus departed from said they were "processing this tragedy" on Monday.

A newlywed couple have spoken out after a bus crash killed 10 of their wedding guests in Australia.

On June 11, a bus transporting guests from Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell's wedding in the Hunter Valley, a wine region a two-hour drive from Sydney, overturned, according to the BBC.

Ten people died and at least 15 others were injured in the incident, which occurred near the town of Greta, the BBC reported. As of Monday, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that nine of the guests injured in the crash were in stable condition. The New South Wales premier's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, which was sent outside of normal business hours.

Gaffney and Edsell publicly commented on the incident on Monday, when they released a statement saying they were "processing this tragedy."

"While we appreciate the outpouring of love and support from the community, we ask that the media respect our privacy while we grieve," Gaffney and Edsell said in a statement shared through the New South Wales premier's office on Monday, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Our primary focus at this time is processing this tragedy, and supporting our family and friends," the statement went on to say.

Gaffney and Edsell did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, and The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the newlyweds said they would not participate in media interviews.

Gaffney's father, John Gaffney, posted a statement about the crash on LinkedIn on Sunday, urging people to push through legislation regarding seatbelts on buses.

"Last Sunday my wife and I attended our son's wedding in the Hunter Valley NSW. It was a glorious occasion until news of the bus crash with ten people losing their lives came within a few hours that has shattered many lives," he said in his post. "Hopefully something positive can come out of this tragedy. 50 years ago the fitting and wearing of seat belts became compulsory in Australia for all occupants of motor cars saving countless lives since."

"Whilst my wife and I can't do this on our own we believe ultimately everyone who rides a bus should have access to a seatbelt and be compelled by laws to wear them," he went on to say. "If you can assist by lobbying your federal, state and members that would be appreciated. If a federal government petition could be set up that would be most appreciated."

The bus driver, Brett Button, 58, was charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving which resulted in death, as well as one count of negligent driving, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

During Button's initial court proceedings at Cessnock Local Court on June 13, a police prosecutor cited witnesses who said Button was unsafely driving for a "prolonged" time period and that he told passengers "fasten your seatbelts" just before the crash, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Button was released on bail and will be tried at a later date, the outlet went on to report.

Correction: June 20, 2023 — An earlier version of this story misstated the number of guests injured in the bus crash who were in stable condition; as of Monday, nine people were in stable condition, not 13.