A tragic incident occurred in Hungary early Sunday when a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the road and overturned into a ditch, resulting in 12 fatalities and several injuries. The accident took place on the eastbound lanes of the M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes, approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest, around 1 a.m.
Authorities stated that the bus driver is suspected to have dozed off while driving, resulting in the tragic crash. The National Directorate for Disaster Management confirmed that the bus, carrying 57 passengers and two drivers, overturned, leaving some passengers trapped underneath the vehicle.
The passengers on board, all of Polish citizenship, were reportedly returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, according to officials from the southeastern Podkarpackie region in Poland. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar mentioned in a Facebook statement that approximately 10 individuals sustained serious injuries in the accident, extending condolences to the victims’ families and acknowledging the efforts of the rescue teams who responded to the scene.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki also expressed deep sorrow over the incident, offering prayers and sympathy to the families and friends of the victims during this difficult time.