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 others. The accident took place on the eastbound lanes near Mezokeresztes when the bus overturned on the M3 motorway, approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest, around 1 a.m.
According to the police, the bus driver is suspected to have fallen asleep and has been detained. Hungary’s National Directorate for Disaster Management reported that there were 57 passengers and two drivers on board, with several passengers becoming trapped under the bus after it flipped over. All individuals on the bus were confirmed to be Polish citizens, as stated by Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór.
The passengers were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as mentioned by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated in a Facebook post that at least 10 people sustained serious injuries in the accident. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and appreciated the efforts of the rescue teams deployed to the site.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed profound sadness over the tragedy, offering prayers and sympathy to the families and friends of the victims.