Hunter Valley bus driver Brett Button’s shocking confession during emotional day in court

The driver who caused one of Australia’s deadliest bus crashes, which left 10 people dead and 25 injured, has given evidence during an emotional day in court.

Brett Button, 59, was behind the wheel of a bus carrying 35 people from a winery wedding back to their accommodation in Singleton – a journey of about 35 minutes – when the bus drove onto Wine Country Dr, near the Hunter Expressway exit at Greta, on June 11, 2023.

The 57-seater bus then crashed into the crash barrier.

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After two days of emotional victim impact statements in court, Button himself testified.

The court heard that Button told police he had not braked as he entered the roundabout in Greta because he felt he was “going slowly enough already”.

On Wednesday, the driver admitted that this was not the case and that he had indeed approached the roundabout too quickly.

Forensic analysts previously suspected that Button had taken 400mg of the opioid Tramadol in the 24 hours before the crash.

During his testimony, Button admitted he had taken “more” than the prescribed dose of painkillers on the day of the crash.

In an emotional statement, Button said he was “ashamed of everything he has caused”.

“I have tried to find the words to say I am sorry, but how do you say you are sorry for such a terrible, tragic event that has destroyed the lives of hundreds of people?” he told the court.

“I can’t forgive myself… I can’t believe I caused this… I never meant this and I really wish it never happened.

“I live with this every day and I hate myself… I never intended to hurt anyone in my entire life… and now I have committed the ultimate sin.

I’ve made parents bury their children… that’s my worst nightmare.

“I hate myself and I want to disappear.”

Earlier this week, the victims’ relatives gave emotional victim impact statements, telling the court about their grief and trauma.

One of the victims, Graham McBride, told how he woke up in a hospital bed five days after the crash in the Hunter Valley with a broken neck, ribs and arm, and numerous lacerations.

He lost his wife Nadene and only daughter Kyah in the crash.

Button was previously heard to have told some passengers that “the next bit was going to be fun” just before the fatal crash.

He pleaded guilty to 10 charges of dangerous driving causing death, nine charges of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and 16 charges of causing bodily harm by reckless driving.