Inside Hunter Valley bus driver’s emotional night in jail

The bus driver charged over the deaths of 10 people in a catastrophic Hunter Valley wedding crash was seen “curled up” and sobbing after he was initially refused bail.

A highly-emotional wedding bus driver Brett Button spent his night in police custody sobbing in a cell and repeatedly saying “I’m sorry, I’m sorry”.

The father-of-four and former school bus driver who was charged over the deaths of 10 people in a catastrophic crash north of Newcastle was seen sitting in a holding cell at Cessnock police station “curled up” after he was refused bail.

A police source told The Daily Telegraph Button, 58, “was telling anyone who’d listen” of his remorse.

“He basically sat there for most of the night, curled up … just saying over and over “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” the police source said.

Button was told he would be spending the night in custody after he was charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death when he lost control of the bus, allegedly at speed, near Greta on Sunday night, about 11.30pm.

“I think he knew that was pretty inevitable by that point … he was certainly very emotional, as you’d expect,” the police source said.

Brett Andrew Button leaving Cessnock Police Station on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Newlyweds Mitchell and Madeleine Gaffney whose happy day at Wandin Estate in the Hunter Valley turned to tragedy have been in constant contact with police as officers work to provide support to them and their injured guests - 14 of whom remain in hospital.

After 24-hours in a holding cell, a teary Button faced Cessnock Local Court on Tuesday morning where the court was told 10 witnesses had given statements about his alleged “prolonged period of unsafe driving” before the crash.

“Fasten your seatbelts,” Button allegedly told the passengers, the court heard.

A sympathetic magistrate Robyn Richardson granted bail saying “I see a man before me who suffers” along with the tight-knit community.

But his bail conditions meant Button had to wait a few more hours inside the police station next door to the court while his family raced back to their home to secure $10,000 and grab his passport to surrender as part of his conditions.

At about 1.30pm and with his head down, Button - dressed in a black hoodie, black pants and carrying a brown paper Coles bag - walked from the station to a waiting white SUV before family in the car drove him straight home.

Button swiftly walked inside the home without commenting to waiting media.

Neighbours said Button was a “good family man” who previously worked as a car salesman and then as a school bus driver before moving to private charters with Linq Buses more recently.

They said it wasn’t unusual for Button to drive a bus home after a shift and park it in the street.

Ten people were killed in the crash and dozens more injured. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

A neighbour, who said he was unaware of Mr Button’s alleged involvement in the Hunter Valley bus crash until watching the news on Monday night.

“They’re a pretty tight knit family,” the man said.

Another neighbour who said Mr Button lived at the address with his family lamented the fallout from the crash was “not going to be an easy task for anyone”.

“My heart breaks for everyone involved,” she said. “He has to live with this for the rest of his life now. It’s not going to be an easy task for anyone.”

The crash scene on Wine Country Drive remained a crime scene on Tuesday while specialist forensic officers with expertise in victims of disaster work to formally identify each of the deceased passengers.

Families have been warned the formal identification process could take weeks, which means no funeral plans can be made until then.

BUS DRIVER A ‘GOOD FAMILY MAN’

Bailed bus driver Brett Button has been described as a “good family man” by shocked neighbours coming to grips with their own close links to the tragic Hunter Valley crash.

Most of those living in Button’s street near Maitland had no idea about his involvement in the crash until they watched or read the news on Monday in the hours after the fatal accident.

Button returned home from Cessnock Court at about 2pm on Tuesday in a white Kia Sportage, along with four supporters travelling with him.

Brett Button returning to his home on Tuesday. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Button, wearing the baggy black hoodie which largely obscured his face outside court, remained silent as two men shielded him into the home.

Multiple households living nearby said it wasn’t uncommon for Button to drive a bus home after a shift and park it in the street.

One neighbour, who declined to be named, said Button was “a good family man” and he wouldn’t hesitate to help if his family reached out.

“They’re a pretty tight knit family … It’ll be a bad situation for a lot of people. I wouldn’t like to be any of the families,” he said.

He added his thoughts were with Button’s children.

“It’ll be hard for the children I gather,” he said.

Another man said he knew little of his neighbour beyond his name and profession but said he thought the bus driver would struggle following the accident.

“He’ll struggle. (It’s) not a good one,” he said.

Floral tributes including one from the Cessnock Ambo’s left near the scene of the crash. Picture: Jonathan Ng

A neighbour down the street lamented the fallout was “not going to be an easy task for anyone”.

“My heart breaks for everyone involved,” she said.

“He has to live with this for the rest of his life now. It’s not going to be an easy task for anyone.”

In the hours before Button returned home the street was quiet, with a slow stream of supporters visiting the address.

A blue 4WD parked across the driveway with three women jumping out and hurriedly rushing inside shortly after 11am.

A woman left the house soon after, while another supporter, , clad in a black jacket and pants,  arrived shortly before midday.

Another neighbour said she was unaware the man charged over the horrific incident lived only a few houses down from her.

“I just can’t even imagine what everyone is going through,” she said.

“A bus has parked there a few times – it was Linq … You never expect someone lives down the road who is involved in something like that.

“I’m just speechless to be honest.”

A resident of the street said the fact the victims had all been celebrating a wedding before the accident made it seem even more relatable.

Buses full of wedding revellers heading home after a day spent celebrating in the Hunter Valley’s vineyards are commonplace.

“It really hits close to home,” she said, casting a thought to the hundreds of weddings held in the region every year.

Originally published as Inside Hunter Valley bus driver’s emotional night in jail