Hunter Valley bus crash: Heartbroken father of one of the victims vows to launch class action against bus firm over the tragedy which killed 10
Hunter Valley bus crash: Heartbroken father of one of victims vows to launch class action against bus company over tragedy that left 10 people dead
The father of a man killed in the Hunter Valley bus crash will file a class action lawsuit against the bus drivers involved in the fatal crash that killed 10 people and injured 25 others.
Adam Bray, the father of 29-year-old Zach, said he will take legal action against Linq Buslines.
The company owned the 57-seat Volvo bus that traveled to Singleton and carried passengers returning from the wedding of Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell.
Appearing in Sunrise on Friday, Mr Bray said he hopes the legal battle will protect future families.
“It’s bittersweet for us. I can’t bring my son back, but I can prevent other people from sitting here with you and having these conversations in the future,” he said.
When approached, Linq Buslines declined to comment.
Zach Bray was one of 10 people killed after a bus rolled onto its side while navigating a roundabout in Greta in NSW’s wine country
Adam Bray (pictured) is the father of bus crash victim Zach Bray, 29
Mr Bray is also calling for a national task force to review bus safety standards, including the introduction of mandatory seatbelts.
In the two months since the loss of his son, he founded a group called STOP Bus Tragedies, which currently has a petition to lobby for an urgent review of seatbelt requirements for all vehicles on Australia’s roads.
The petition currently has 2,467 signatures and will run until August 31.
“The day after I buried my son, I had been to six funerals at that point. You read in the media that simple technology could have prevented this,” he said.
“All that does is build anger. You have grief and trauma because you lost your son … and in the case of other families, their daughters and wives.”
Mr Bray’s son was one of 10 passengers killed after bus driver Brett Andrew Button, 58, reportedly lost control while navigating the Hunter Expressway roundabout in June
Mr Bray’s son was one of 10 passengers killed after bus driver Brett Andrew Button, 58, reportedly lost control while navigating the Hunter Expressway roundabout in June.
Darcy Bulman, Tori Cowburn, Angus Craig, Nadene and Kyah McBride, Rebecca Mullen, Andrew and Lynan Scott, and Kane Symons also died in the crash.
Mr Button was charged with a total of 63 charges, including 43 new charges filed in August. They include charges of causing grievous bodily harm to nine people by driving dangerously behind the wheel, and 10 charges each of dangerous driving and negligent driving resulting in death.
He will return to court on October 4, the day of his 59th birthday.