Driver Sentenced to 32 Years for Fatal Australian Wedding Bush Crash

On September 11, an Australian court handed down a 32-year prison sentence to a bus driver whose actions led to a tragic crash that claimed the lives of 10 individuals and injured 25 others.

Brett Andrew Button, 59, was behind the wheel of a coach transporting 35 wedding guests when the vehicle overturned in June 2023 in the Hunter Valley wine region of New South Wales. At the time of the incident, Button was speeding and under the influence of a significant dose of the opioid Tramadol.

Button was able to avoid a manslaughter trial by accepting a plea deal. In this agreement, he pleaded guilty to 10 counts of causing death by dangerous driving, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm through dangerous driving, and 16 counts of causing bodily harm due to “furious driving.” As a result, 10 manslaughter charges were dropped.

Newcastle District Court judge Roy Ellis, after hearing two days of emotional impact statements from over 30 survivors and family members of the deceased, condemned Button’s behavior as reckless and irresponsible. He declared that Button must serve a minimum of 23 years and 8 months before being eligible for parole, which will not occur before May 2048.

Judge Ellis noted that in his 50 years of service in the judiciary, he had never encountered a case with such profound devastation. He made it clear that while the sentence was handed down, it would not bring back those who lost their lives nor would it heal the ongoing physical and emotional injuries suffered by the survivors.

Button claimed he was unaware that the medication had impaired his ability to drive, explaining that he had taken Tramadol for pain relief. The side effects of the drug can include drowsiness and impaired vision, yet witnesses illuminated a different reality in court. Passengers recounted feeling fear as Button drove at high speed, disregarding their pleas to reduce his speed before the coach lost control at a roundabout near Greta, approximately 30 miles northwest of Newcastle.

Survivors detailed the lasting effects of the crash, which have severely impacted their daily lives. Many have struggled with physical injuries, psychological trauma, and grief, leading to difficulties in returning to work or driving again.

Graeme McBride, a passenger who suffered a broken neck, shared his anguish over losing both his wife and 22-year-old daughter in the incident. His heart-wrenching plea in court revealed the depth of his sorrow: “My family tree has been cut down. I just want my old life back.”

Nick Dinakis, 30, who survived but was left with a life-altering brain injury along with spinal and facial injuries, lost his girlfriend in the crash. Addressing Button directly, he expressed his pain: “You’ve broken me physically, you’ve scarred my body, and worst of all you’ve broken my heart and mind.”

Button, who chose not to testify during the trial, expressed deep remorse for his actions. He admitted to struggling with how to properly apologize to the survivors and families affected by what he described as a destructive and tragic event. “I’ve tried to figure out the words to say I’m sorry, but how do you say you’re sorry for such a horrible tragic event that has ruined the lives of hundreds of people,” he reflected. He also added, “I live with this every day and I hate myself.”

In the aftermath of the crash, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed profound shock and extended government support to all those impacted. Speaking in Parliament last year, he remarked on the cruelty of the situation, stating, “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.” He emphasized that the thoughts of all Australians were with the families and friends of the victims during such harrowing times.