A tragic incident occurred in Hungary early Sunday as a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the highway near Mezokeresztes and overturned in a ditch, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals and injuries to several others. The bus, traveling on the eastbound lanes of the M3 motorway approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest, met with the accident 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 of Hungary stated that among the 57 passengers and two drivers on board, several passengers were trapped beneath the overturned bus. According to the Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson, all occupants 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 a minimum of 10 individuals sustained severe injuries. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and appreciated the efforts of the rescue teams at the scene.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed profound grief over the tragedy, offering prayers and sympathy to the families and friends of the victims.