A tragic accident occurred early Sunday in Hungary when a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the highway near Mezokeresztes, overturned in a ditch, resulting in 12 fatalities and multiple injuries. The incident took place on the eastbound lanes of the M3 motorway, approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest, around 1 a.m.
Authorities reported that the bus driver, suspected of falling asleep at the wheel, has been detained. The National Directorate for Disaster Management disclosed that the bus was transporting 57 passengers and two drivers, with several individuals trapped beneath the overturned vehicle.
According to Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór, all passengers onboard held Polish citizenship. The travelers, hailing from the southeastern Podkarpackie region, were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as confirmed by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, in a Facebook statement, mentioned that approximately 10 individuals sustained severe injuries. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and expressed gratitude to the emergency responders who swiftly arrived at the accident site.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki also conveyed his “deep sorrow” over the tragic event, offering prayers and sympathy to the families and friends of those affected.
