A tragic incident occurred on a Hungarian highway early Sunday as a passenger bus, transporting a group of Polish tourists, veered off the road and overturned in a ditch, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals and injuries to several others. The accident took place on the eastbound lanes near Mezokeresztes, around 140 kilometers east of Budapest, on the M3 motorway at approximately 1 a.m.
Authorities revealed that the bus driver, suspected of falling asleep at the wheel, has been detained. The Hungary National Directorate for Disaster Management disclosed that the bus, carrying 57 passengers and two drivers, had some passengers trapped under it following the rollover.
According to the Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór, all occupants on the bus held Polish citizenship. The passengers were residents of the southeastern Podkarpackie region returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as stated by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, in a Facebook post, confirmed that at least 10 individuals suffered severe injuries in the accident. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and appreciated the efforts of the rescue teams deployed to the scene. Polish President Karol Nawrocki also expressed profound sadness over the tragedy, offering prayers and sympathy to the families and friends of the deceased.