“I doubt we will ever recover from this, because losing a child is inconceivable to any parent, and watching their two boys grow up without them will be something that we have to endure every day,” she said in a statement read by a victim support worker in court on Monday morning.
Police inspect the bus at the crash scene.Credit: Nick Moir
“But we will do it, and we’ll do it with love and pride and remind them constantly how wonderful their parents were and how much they love them.”
Warren Bulman, the father of Darcy Bulman, choked back tears as he read his own statement.
“Darcy’s completely avoidable death shattered me to the core and there was nothing I could do to protect my girl – the role of a father,” he said.
He said he hated Button who had “ruined my family’s lives” with an act of “reckless stupidity”.
Judge Roy Ellis, convening the hearing, said Button was facing a “lengthy sentence”.
‘Darcy’s completely avoidable death shattered me to the core.’
Warren Bulman
“These proceedings are fairly well unprecedented,” Ellis said.
“Never before have so many people been injured or killed in a single motor-vehicle incident.”
“No sentence will bring back any loved ones, no sentence will cure any mental or physical injuries.”
Victims and their families plan to read impact statements in court over two days.
Ellis said his role as judge was about attaining justice.
“Justice for the offender and justice for his victims and their families. Justice is not about revenge it is about deterrence, accountability and punishment,” he said.
The Herald, earlier this year, revealed Button was addicted to opioid painkillers at a level that alarmed his doctors and bosses.
He was taking 40 Tramadol a week and 10 Panadeine Forte each day, according to a WorkCover claim lodged one year before the fatal crash.
Loading
The police fact sheet, also revealed by this masthead, alleged multiple passengers on Button’s bus feared the speed was “unwarranted” as they drove from the wedding venue along the winding country road that links the Hunter region’s wineries to freeways.
Four allegedly fastened their seatbelts because of Button’s driving as he approached the roundabout at the end of Wine Country Drive.
One woman “felt scared and put her head in her partner’s lap … who held her as a result”, the fact sheet claims.
“We are going too fast,” the man told his fearful partner.
“He’s coming in hot,” another passenger told his wife as Button approached the roundabout.
“If you liked that corner, you’re going to like this one,” Button allegedly told his passengers.
But as Button attempted to traverse the roundabout his bus rolled onto the side impacting “heavily” with the road, slid up the concrete surface and hit a long steel guard rail.
The 35 passengers were thrown to the left of the bus. Nine of the passengers were critically injured and died at the scene, while a 10th died of his injuries in John Hunter Hospital.
The remaining 25 passengers were rushed to hospital with varying injuries – nine were so severely injured prosecutors claim Button committed “grievous bodily harm”.
“At the time of the collision, weather was generally fine with some fog rolling in,” the fact sheet claims.
“The roadway was dry, and traffic was light.”
The police document also reveals the first people to arrive on the scene were other guests from the wedding.
They did their best to help trapped passengers before emergency services arrived minutes later.
Police allege Button’s driving had placed the lives of his passengers at extreme risk of injury or death – the conditions were clear and he was experienced with the roundabout.
“[Button] drove into the roundabout at a speed so excessive the bus could not maintain contact with the road surface,” police allege.
“The dangerous manner in which the accused drove was displayed throughout the journey to the point where passengers felt the need to restrain themselves and several formed opinions that he was travelling too fast.”
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.
