Hunter Valley bus driver ‘sorry’ for horror crash that killed 10, 25 injured

A bus driver accused of causing a horror crash that killed 10 wedding guests and injured 25 more has spoken out for the first time.

Brett Andrew Button, 58, was behind the wheel at the time of the crash. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

A bus driver who allegedly caused a fatal crash that killed 10 people in the NSW Hunter Valley says he was “devastated” by the incident after speaking out for the first time.

Brett Button, 59, appeared before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday as he faces almost 90 charges associated with the horror crash, one of the country’s worst ever.

In a statement read by his lawyer Chris O’Brien, Mr Button 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 that I’m not thinking of the families that have been affected by the crash.

Brett Button (left), the bus driver charged with killing ten people in a Hunter Valley crash, gave a statement outside court via his Lawyer Chris O'Brien (right).

Brett Andrew Button, 58, was behind the wheel at the time of the crash. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“I truly feel for anyone involved, including the emergency services.

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

Police allege Mr Button is responsible for causing the crash that killed 10 people and injured a further 25 more in June, 2023.

10 people were killed when the bus flipped in NSW’s Hunter Valley. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

He has not entered any pleas.

At the time of the crash, the bus was ferrying wedding guests from the Wandin Valley Estate in Singleton.

Husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott were killed in the crash and farewelled in heartfelt ceremonies weeks after.

Mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride, Kyah’s boyfriend Kane Symons, Zach Bray, Angus Craig, Darcy Bulman, Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen were also killed.

Newlyweds Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell, whose wedding the group had been attending, have remained tight-lipped since the crash.

In a June 2023 statement, the couple thanked the community for their support but declined any media interviews while they grieved.

Mr Gaffney’s father, John Gaffney, said the wedding was a “glorious occasion” until news of the crash “shattered so many lives”.

The group were returning from the wedding of Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell (pictured). Picture: Supplied

The couple used the tragedy as a platform to advocate for increased safety on buses in NSW.

“Hopefully something positive can come out of this tragedy,” Mr Gaffney said.

“50 years ago the fitting and wearing of seat belts became compulsory in Australia for all occupants of motor cars saving countless lives since.

“Whilst my wife and I can’t do this on our own we believe ultimately everyone who rides a bus should have access to a seatbelt and be compelled by laws to wear them.”

The crash sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of the NSW Hunter Valley.

The crash is widely considered one of the country’s worst ever. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

The Single Roosters AFC lost seven of their members in the crash, including Mr and Mrs Scott, and Ms Mulen.

The club's president, Dylan Hixon, said the loss had caused “heartache, distress, and sadness” to the community.

In total, Mr Button faces 89 charges including nine counts of negligent driving occasioning death and 16 counts of driving a motor vehicle furiously doing or causing harm.

A further 25 charges of causing bodily harm while in charge of a motorvehicle are set to be withdrawn at Mr Button’s next court appearance in June.