Driver Sentenced to Prison for Fatal Australian Wedding Bus Crash

The driver who caused one of the deadliest traffic accidents in Australia, a wedding bus catastrophe that left ten people dead, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison. On June 11, 2023, a bus capsized in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley wine area, causing injuries to twenty-five further people.

When Brett Button,59, was involved in an accident, he was driving too fast and under the influence of prescription narcotics. He was originally accused of manslaughter, but as part of a plea agreement, he eventually admitted guilt to many charges of hazardous driving.

Readers who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander should be advised that this tale mentions deceased people.

At the sentencing, survivors and victims’ families flocked from all across the nation. They were obviously upset when the judge decided that Button would not be eligible for parole until May 2048. Button stated he was not aware of his impairment despite having taken a significant dosage of Tramadol, a potent medication that can produce drowsiness and decreased eyesight.

Witnesses said that Button’s reckless driving had scared them, and some had even pleaded with him to slow down in order to prevent the bus from toppling over and sliding along a guard rail when he lost control of it on a roundabout. All 35 passengers—all but Button—were killed or seriously injured.

Over thirty impacted people spoke at the court session, which was dubbed “unprecedented in scope” and included details of their ongoing physical and emotional anguish. After losing his daughter Kyah, wife Nadene, and boyfriend Kane Symons, Graeme McBride expressed his anguish by stating, “My family tree has been cut down.”

After suffering serious injuries and losing his partner Darcy Bulman, Nick Dinakis said of the devastating effect on his life, “You’ve broken me physically, you’ve scarred my body, and worst of all you’ve broken my heart and mind.”

The tragedy had a tremendous effect on the small town of Singleton and rattled the Hunter Valley, which is well-known for its wineries and wedding destinations. Among the dead were six residents as well as a number of people from other towns and states.