Hunter Valley Bus Crash Driver Sentenced
Brett Andrew Button, the driver in the tragic Hunter Valley bus crash, receives a 32-year prison sentence, highlighting the serious consequences of negligence.
Hunter Valley Bus Tragedy: Driver Brett Andrew Button Receives 32-Year Sentence
Hunter Valley Bus Crash: Driver Sentenced to 32 Years for Fatal Tragedy
In a heart-wrenching conclusion to a tragic case, Brett Andrew Button, the bus driver involved in the Hunter Valley crash that claimed ten lives, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison. The judge emphasized that Button abandoned his responsibility and engaged in reckless behavior leading up to the disaster.
On June 11 last year, Button was transporting wedding guests from the picturesque Hunter Valley vineyards to Singleton when the bus rolled and struck a guard rail in Greta. Initially facing ten counts of manslaughter, the charges were later reduced to dangerous driving occasioning death after a plea deal with the Department of Public Prosecutions.
During the court proceedings, 40 family members and survivors shared their emotional testimonies, detailing the profound impact of the crash. Button, who pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm, stood solemnly as Judge Roy Ellis delivered the sentence. He noted that in his extensive career, he had never encountered a case with such devastation.
Judge Ellis stated, “The offender had a responsibility to ensure the safety of passengers, and his manner of driving should have been exemplary.” He highlighted Button’s risk-taking behavior, which directly led to the loss of ten innocent lives and injuries to many others.
The victims included beloved individuals like Nadene and Kyah McBride, Andrew and Lynan Scott, and Tori Cowburn. Outside the courtroom, Leoni Bowey, sister of Nadene and aunt of Kyah, expressed mixed feelings about the sentence. While grateful for the outcome, she poignantly remarked, “It will never bring back my beautiful sister or my sassy niece.”
As the community mourns, the emotional scars left by this tragedy will linger, reminding all of the importance of responsibility on the road.
