A tragic incident occurred in Hungary early Sunday as a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the road and overturned in a ditch, resulting in the death of 12 individuals and injuries to several others. The accident took place on the eastbound lanes close to Mezokeresztes on the M3 motorway, approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest, around 1 a.m.
According to authorities, the bus driver is believed to have fallen asleep, leading to the fatal crash. The Hungarian National Directorate for Disaster Management reported that the bus, carrying 57 passengers and two drivers, flipped over, trapping multiple passengers under the vehicle.
The passengers on board, all of whom hold Polish citizenship, were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as confirmed by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated that at least 10 individuals sustained serious injuries in the accident and expressed condolences to the victims’ families while acknowledging the efforts of the rescue teams at the scene.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki also expressed profound sadness over the tragedy, extending prayers and sympathy to the families and friends of the deceased.