Brett Button, the bus driver responsible for the tragic Hunter Valley wedding bus crash, will face a three-day court hearing this week.
The crash, which occurred in June 2023, killed ten people and injured dozens.
It has been labelled Australia’s deadliest road accident in decades.
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The 59-year-old bus driver admitted to taking a large dose of the opioid tramadol, a painkiller known to cause drowsiness and impaired judgement, before the crash.
He also acknowledged fostering a “party atmosphere” on board, joking with passengers and ignoring their concerns about his speed.
According to court documents, when passengers asked him to slow down, Button replied, “If you liked that corner, you’re going to like this one.”
Button lost control of the bus while navigating a roundabout in Greta, causing the vehicle to roll onto its side.
He has pleaded guilty to ten counts of dangerous driving causing death and multiple counts of grievous bodily harm.
The hearing will consider Button’s behaviour, including his excessive tramadol use and failure to brake at the roundabout.
Prosecutors dropped manslaughter charges in exchange for Button’s guilty pleas, sparking anger from some victims’ families.
The sentencing hearing will continue over the next few days.
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