On June 11, 2023, the coach that was returning from the celebration in the Hunter Valley wine area of New South Wales toppled, injuring twenty-five more persons.
At the time of the collision, 59-year-old Brett Button was driving too quickly and struggling with a prescription drug addiction.
He was first accused of manslaughter, but after accepting a prosecution agreement, he instead entered a guilty plea to many charges related to reckless driving.
Traveling from all over the nation to witness Button’s sentencing, surviving passengers and the families of the deceased wept and embraced as the court declared he could not do it.
On the day of the collision, Button had taken a significant dose of Tramadol, a potent medication that can produce sleepiness, brain fog, and blurred vision. However, he claimed he was unaware of his impairment.
He was requested to slow down by some of the passengers, who told the court they were afraid of his unpredictable driving.
Not long after, at a roundabout, he lost control of the bus, which tipped over and skidded along a guard rail.
All 35 passengers—aside from Button—were either killed or seriously injured while aboard.
