‘Look at my face’: Survivor dreamt Hunter Valley bus driver had killed himself

One of the survivors of the Hunter Valley bus crash has ordered the guilty driver, Brett Button, to show him respect and look at him in the face – before telling the condemned man he dreamt he had killed himself in prison “and everyone was at peace”.

For two days Button has sat in a glass cage staring at his hands as a parade of survivors and those left behind have poured their hearts out in victim impact statements – but they insist they are the ones trapped in the wreckage he left behind.

Brett Button was the driver of the bus which crashed and caused the deaths of 10 passengers.Credit: Nick Moir

Button, 59, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, and dozens more of grievous bodily harm relating to the 25 survivors injured on his coach, which rolled in wine country in June 2023.

Tuesday marks day two of a three-day sentencing process for Button, who is expected to receive a lengthy prison term.

It is also the second day families of the dead and survivors have faced Button in court to read victim impact statements, one after the other, for hours.

Throughout the statements Button has sat with his head in his hands, or staring at the floor, dressed in a black suit and seated inside the glass dock.

One survivor ordered Button to look him in the face, to show him respect, after he had “dismembered” his friends and “destroyed my future”.

Ten bus passengers were killed in the Hunter Valley crash.

“He has not looked at one person while they are speaking. He’s just had his head down,” the man said.

“Last night, as part of one of my flashbacks and dreams, I was reminded of the night where he killed 10 people … and had his hands in his pockets, while I had no shirt.

“My shirt was covering one of my best mates’ heads as he was bleeding to death.”

The man, who the Herald has decided not to name, told Button he had nightmares every night since the crash.

‘I’d woken up from a dream thinking you had done the honourable thing and killed yourself in jail.’

Hunter Valley crash survivor

“The only peaceful nightmare I’ve had in the last 15 months was last night,” the man said.

“I’d woken up from a dream thinking you had done the honourable thing and killed yourself in jail.

“It seemed like everyone was at peace … You were dead, dead like the 10 people you killed and the thousands of lives you’ve changed forever.”

Steve Symons, flanked by his wife Sarnia, spoke of losing their son Kane in the crash.

Their family endured an overwhelming sadness which would never recover, he said.

The loss of Kane was particularly devastating, Symons said, because he had survived a devastating brain injury at age 11 when he was struck by a golf ball and nearly killed.

“To lose him now, after being given that second chance, is a loss that is cruel and unjust,” he said.

Jacqui Varasdi and Montana Bray, mother and sister of Zach Bray, who was one of 10 who died in the Hunter Valley bus crash.Credit: Dean Sewell

Zach Bray’s mother, Jacqui Varasdi, said her son and the other guests at the ill-fated wedding “did everything right” by organising a coach to drive them home.

But Bray and Kane, along with Nadene and daughter Kyah McBride, Andrew Scott and his wife, Lynan, Angus Craig, Darcy Bulman, Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen “still didn’t make it home”, she said.

Bray had survived bowel cancer and had posted publicly about his battle. The post went viral and undoubtedly saved lives.

“It’s heartbreaking he can no longer continue his life-saving mission,” Varasdi said.

Varasdi said her son was drug tested at his job as an engineer in the mines and through his pursuit of a pilot’s licence.

Button had an extensive opioid addiction that had concerned his doctors, but he was still allowed to drive for years.

Bray’s sister, Montana, told the court she is a diabetic and regularly pulls over her car to monitor her blood sugar before she continues her journey.

Button, by contrast, made his choices to drive and it claimed 10 people.

“Once is a mistake, twice is a choice. This individual has made many choices,” she said.

Montana Bray continues to think about her brother being trapped in the bus, and is triggered each time she sees coaches on the road.

“Why should Mr Button be offered any opportunity for freedom when the families and survivors are trapped for the rest of their lives?” she asked.

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.