A tragic incident occurred in Hungary early Sunday as a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the highway near Mezokeresztes, overturning in a ditch and resulting in the loss of 12 lives with several others sustaining injuries. The accident took place on the M3 motorway approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest around 1 a.m.
Authorities have reported that the bus driver, who is now in custody, likely fell asleep at the wheel, leading to the deadly crash. According to Hungary’s National Directorate for Disaster Management, the bus was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers, with multiple individuals trapped under the vehicle post-rollover. Notably, all occupants on board held Polish citizenship, as confirmed by Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór.
The passengers were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as mentioned in a statement by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland. Prime Minister Péter Magyar of Hungary acknowledged that at least 10 individuals suffered severe injuries and extended condolences to the victims’ families while expressing gratitude towards the emergency responders who swiftly arrived at the scene. Similarly, Polish President Karol Nawrocki conveyed his heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the affected families in a message of support.