Survivors of 2023 Hunter Valley wedding bus crash demand safety reforms
Two survivors of the June 2023 bus crash that killed 10 people are urging authorities to act on the OTSI report’s safety recommendations.
Three years after a wedding-party bus tipped over on a roundabout near Greta, killing 10 and leaving many with severe injuries, survivors Jason Junkeer and Sharyn are pressing for change. Their testimony highlights the OTSI investigation’s findings of driver impairment from tramadol, inadequate medical disclosure, and a lack of clear medication rules for bus drivers. They also point to the oval-shaped Branxton interchange, which lacked speed-reduction signage, and the low seat-belt usage on the vehicle.
Driver Brett Button, who was under the influence of prescribed opioids, received a 32-year prison term with a 24-year non-parole period. The NSW Roads Minister has pledged to add notifiable medications to driver-assessment forms, and Transport for NSW is considering the report’s recommendations on roundabout design and bus safety messaging.
Why it matters
The crash exposed gaps in driver health monitoring and bus safety, prompting calls for nationwide regulatory reforms.
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