Bus Driver Gets 32 Years for Fatal Crash

Brett Button, 59, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for causing a fatal bus crash in Hunter Valley, NSW, which resulted in 10 deaths and 25 injuries. The crash occurred on June 11, 2023, when Button, driving a bus of wedding guests, failed to brake adequately and rolled the vehicle into a guard rail. Emotional victim impact statements were delivered by survivors and family members, highlighting the long-term grief and trauma caused by the accident. Button admitted to taking excessive painkillers and approaching the roundabout too quickly. Judge Roy Ellis remarked on the unprecedented devastation of the case. Button will be eligible for parole in 2048 after serving a non-parole period of 24 years.