A tragic accident occurred early Sunday in Hungary when a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the road and overturned into a ditch on the eastbound lanes near Mezokeresztes. The incident, which took place on the M3 motorway about 140 kilometers east of Budapest around 1 a.m., resulted in the death of 12 individuals and injuries to several others.
Authorities suspect that the bus driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, leading to the fatal crash. The bus, with 57 passengers and two drivers onboard, left several passengers trapped under the vehicle following the overturn.
All occupants of the bus are confirmed to be Polish citizens, according to a statement by Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór. The passengers, hailing from the southeastern Podkarpackie region, were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as stated by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar of Hungary reported at least 10 severe injuries in the accident and extended condolences to the victims’ families while acknowledging the efforts of the rescue teams at the scene. Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed profound sadness over the incident, offering prayers and sympathy to the affected families and loved ones.
The details of the tragic bus crash in Hungary have deeply saddened both nations, emphasizing the need for caution on the roads to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.