– The accident caused horror in Australia: a year ago, ten wedding guests died in a bus accident. The driver was under the influence of a painkiller – and has to spend a long time in prison.
About a year after a devastating bus accident involving a wedding party in Australia that left ten people dead, the bus driver has been sentenced to 32 years in prison. More than two dozen other passengers were injured, some seriously, in the accident in the Hunter Valley in the state of New South Wales in June 2023. The news agency AAP quoted Judge Roy Ellis of the Newcastle District Court as saying that the 59-year-old defendant was clearly impaired by taking a painkiller during the accident and was therefore driving too fast and dangerously.
On June 11, 2023, the bus suddenly fell sideways onto a guardrail near the town of Greta as it exited a roundabout in thick fog. The bus driver himself was only slightly injured. He was arrested and later charged with ten counts of dangerous driving resulting in death and grievous bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to all charges.
Parole is only possible after 24 years
Just a few hours earlier, the wedding couple, who were not on the bus themselves, had been celebrating with their guests at a winery. The Hunter Valley, north of Sydney, is one of Australia’s most famous wine regions and is very popular as a celebration and wedding location. The accident has sparked a debate about whether wearing seatbelts on buses in Australia should become compulsory.
When handing down the verdict, Judge Ellis stressed that in his more than 50 years in the justice system, he was not aware of any other case that had such a devastating impact on so many people. The bus driver had seriously breached his duty of care towards his passengers and had failed to meet his responsibilities. The convicted man can only apply for parole after serving 24 years in prison.
He admitted in court that he had taken more than the prescribed amount of a painkiller. “I’m ashamed,” he said. “I can’t forgive myself. I can’t believe I caused this.” The driver went on to say that he had committed the “ultimate sin.” “I hate myself. I want to disappear.”
