A tragic incident occurred in Hungary early Sunday when a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the road and overturned into a ditch, resulting in 12 fatalities and numerous injuries. The accident took place on the eastbound lanes near Mezokeresztes on the M3 motorway, about 140 kilometers east of Budapest, around 1 a.m.
Authorities reported that the bus driver is suspected to have fallen asleep at the wheel and has been detained for questioning. According to Hungary’s National Directorate for Disaster Management, the bus was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers, with several individuals trapped under the overturned vehicle.
All occupants on the bus were confirmed to be Polish citizens, as stated by Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór to news agency PAP. The passengers were reportedly returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as announced by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar posted on Facebook, revealing that at least 10 individuals sustained serious injuries in the accident. He expressed condolences to the victims’ families and appreciated the efforts of the rescue teams deployed to the crash site. Polish President Karol Nawrocki also conveyed his heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the affected families in the wake of the tragedy.
