A tragic incident occurred early Sunday in Hungary when a passenger bus veered off a highway and overturned in a ditch, resulting in the death of 12 individuals and injuries to others. The bus, transporting Polish tourists, overturned on the eastbound lanes near Mezokeresztes, approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest on the M3 motorway at around 1 a.m.
Authorities mentioned that the bus driver is suspected of falling asleep, leading to the accident, and has been detained. The Hungary National Directorate for Disaster Management reported that the bus, carrying 57 passengers and two drivers, had several passengers trapped under the vehicle post-rollover.
According to the Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maciej Wewiór, all individuals aboard the bus held Polish citizenship. The passengers were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as confirmed by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated on Facebook that at least 10 individuals sustained severe injuries in the crash. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and commended the prompt response of the rescue teams. Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed profound sadness over the tragic event and offered prayers and sympathy to the affected families and friends.