'Kick in the teeth': Families of Hunter Valley crash furious over dropped charges

“Does it need to take these 10 lives to fix bus and coach safety in Australia?” NSW dad, Adam, said.

Alexandra Feiam

2 min read

May 9, 2024 - 11:29AM

Hunter Valley bus crash: Driver expected to face fresh manslaughter charges

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The father of one of the 10 victims who died in the Hunter Valley bus crash is struggling to comprehend how the driver’s manslaughter charges had been dropped.

On Wednesday, 59yo Brett Andrew Button reached a plea deal with prosecutors, dropping 10 counts of manslaughter in exchange for pleas to other charges including nine counts of negligent driving occasioning death.

On June 11 2023, Button was driving a bus with 35 wedding guests returning from a wedding in Hunter Valley.

He allegedly lost control of the vehicle at a roundabout near Greta, which rolled and killed 10 people, injuring a further 25.

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NSW father Adam Bray said dropping the manslaughter charges was "more than a kick in the teeth." Picture: ACA

Bus driver’s dropped charges are “more than a kick in the teeth” to victims’ families

Adam Bray, whose son Zachary was killed in the tragic bus crash, said the decision to drop the manslaughter charges was “more than a kick in the teeth.”

Speaking to A Current Affair, Bray said the plea deal “reopens wounds and triggers, and it evokes, obviously, some anger.”

“But I'm trying to be balanced and stick with the facts, and hopefully, we can achieve some positive outcomes,” he continued.

According to a report from 7News, families of the victims said they were ambushed by prosecutors in the 36 hours leading up to the court hearing; some parents of the victims said they felt “betrayed” by the decision.

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“Thirty-six hours before the court today, all the families were told, sold a bit of a story, to be honest,” Bray told ACA.

“That's extremely disappointing and I'll continue to fight.”

Bray argued the decision was “totally wrong.”

“Does it need to take these 10 lives to fix bus and coach safety in Australia?” he asked.

Ten people died in a bus crash in the Hunter Valley in 2023. Picture: Supplied

Father of bus crash victim says charges are “not balanced”

Following the news of the plea deal, it was revealed Button had prescription painkillers in his system during the time of the crash and has a dependence on painkillers, per the Sydney Morning Herald.

Bray has since argued the dropped charges were “not balanced.”

“It's criminal to drive a vehicle, a heavy vehicle in Australia, particularly with 35 passengers on board, when you are medicated,” he said.

The bus driver pleaded guilty to 35 charges, including 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death. Picture: NCA NewsWire

A statement released by Button’s legal team in March said there was “not a day that goes by that I don’t think about what happened that night.”

“There isn’t an hour that goes by where I’m not thinking of the families that have been affected by my actions,” the 59yo said.

“I am devastated by what has occurred and I am truly deeply sorry.”

Button pleaded guilty to 35 charges, including 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, while 35 other charges were dropped. He did not enter pleas for 20 other charges.

Button is remanded in custody and will remain there until his next court appearance, which is slated for May 30.