A bus driver in Australia who was responsible for a tragic accident that turned a country wedding celebration into a horrifying nightmare that left 10 people dead and 25 others injured delivered an apology in court to the friends and families of the victims and expressed deep regret over what happened.
Fifty-nine-year-old Brett Button was working transportation for a wedding party on June 11, 2023, in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, when he was driving a group of 35 guests from a winery venue to where they were staying in Singleton. They never made it to their destination and the fatal crash killed 10 of them and injured everyone else on the bus.
For two days, Button sat quietly listening to victims explain how his actions resulted in parents burying their adult children, kids becoming orphans, and partners turning into widows. Following the statements from victims and families impacted by the crash, Button issued his own testimony and an apology, making it clear that he knew it would not be enough for them.
On Wednesday, Sept. 11, Button admitted that he sped into a roundabout too quickly and caused the vehicle to flip over, resulting in one of the deadliest bus crashes in Australian history. Button said he tried to “figure out the words to say… sorry” and then asked how it was even possible to apologize “for such a horrible, tragic event” that ruined hundreds of people’s lives. He said he could not forgive himself, that he couldn’t believe he caused so much pain, that he “never meant to hurt anyone,” and that he hates himself and wants “to disappear” after what happened.
Forensic analysis found that Button took a 400mg dose of Tramadol, an opioid, at least 24 hours prior to the crash. He admitted to exceeding the prescription dose for the painkiller but said the crash was due to negligence, taking full responsibility while clarifying he did not “do it deliberately.”
Judge Roy Ellis sentenced Button to 32 years in jail and said he hoped the sentence would provide “some closure for at least some” of the many people impacted.
