A bus driver in Australia will stay in prison for a long time after a terrible accident. Brett Andrew Button was driving a bus full of wedding guests in June 2023 when he crashed. Ten people died, and 25 others were hurt.
The crash happened near Greta, New South Wales. Button had taken a lot of pain medicine before driving. The medicine was a strong painkiller called Tramadol.
Survivors said the bus ride was scary before the crash. One person said it felt like falling sideways and not being able to do anything.
The court learned that Button was speeding and joked with the passengers right before the bus crashed. He said, “This next part’s going to be fun.” Then, the bus tipped over and hit a guardrail.
Button said he didn’t think the medicine made him drive badly because he had been taking it for years. But the court found out that he had lost a job before because he was addicted to the medicine.
Button was charged with causing the deaths and injuries. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 32 years in prison.
The judge said Button’s actions had terrible results for many people.
Button tried to get his sentence reduced, but the court said no. The court agreed that Button knew the medicine could make it hard for him to drive safely.
One of the judges said the crash caused a lot of pain. Families lost loved ones, and children were left without parents.
Families of the people who died said they were happy the court didn’t reduce Button’s sentence. One father, Adam Bray, lost his son in the crash. He said the court’s decision felt like justice.
Button will be able to ask for parole in 2048.
