A tragic incident occurred in Hungary early Sunday when a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the road and overturned in a ditch, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals and multiple injuries. The bus was traveling on the eastbound lanes near Mezokeresztes town on the M3 motorway, approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest around 1 a.m.
Authorities stated that the bus driver, suspected of falling asleep, 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 after the overturning.
According to the Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór, all individuals on the bus held Polish citizenship. The passengers, 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 at least 10 individuals sustained severe injuries in the accident. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and expressed gratitude to the rescue teams mobilized to the scene. Polish President Karol Nawrocki also conveyed his “deep sorrow” over the tragic event, offering prayers and sympathy to the affected families and friends.