World · North America · 2 hrs ago
Hunter Valley bus crash survivor says she has forgiven driver
In the 2023 Hunter Valley bus crash in New South Wales, a bus carrying wedding guests overturned at a roundabout near Greta.
Ten people died and 25 were injured.
Driver Brett Button pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and other charges after he was found to have been driving under the influence of the opioid painkiller tramadol.
Survivor Sharyn Junkeer says she has forgiven Button, saying holding on to anger made her healing harder.
Button is serving a 32-year prison sentence, and some families say his sentencing was a beginning of accountability, not the end.
Survivors and families are calling for bus industry reform and a coronial inquiry into the crash.
A survivor of the 2023 Hunter Valley bus crash says she has forgiven the driver, Brett Button.
The crash killed 10 people and injured 25 others.
Sharyn Junkeer said holding on to anger was unhelpful to her healing and that her faith helped her cope.
Button pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 43 other charges.
Junkeer and other affected families are calling for reform in the bus industry and a coronial inquiry.
- Who
- Survivor Sharyn Junkeer says she has forgiven bus driver Brett Button.
- What
- Junkeer and her family have spoken publicly about the crash and their forgiveness.
- When
- The crash happened on June 11, 2023; Junkeer's family spoke publicly this week.
- Where
- The bus overturned at a roundabout at Greta in New South Wales.
- Why
- Junkeer said holding on to anger and hatred was unhelpful to her healing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A bus carrying guests from a wedding reception overturned at a roundabout at Greta, killing 10 people and injuring 25.
Button pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 43 other charges.
Button was sentenced to 32 years in prison.
Sharyn Junkeer and her family spoke publicly about the crash and said they had forgiven Button.
- Deaths
- 10 people
- Injuries
- 25 people
- Crash date
- June 11, 2023
- Crash location
- Greta, New South Wales
- Driver
- Brett Button, 59
- Sentence
- 32 years in prison
What people are saying
To just hold on to this anger and hatred towards him, it was really unhelpful to me and my healing.
I do have a sense of forgiveness towards Brett Button.
On the one hand, it was relief that the court had recognised that this was a major event.
Sentencing Brett for all those years was a beginning of accountability. But it doesn't end with Brett Button.