A passenger bus carrying Polish tourists crashed into a ditch and overturned on Hungary's M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes, killing 12 people and injuring several others. Police confirmed the tragedy, reporting that many passengers became trapped under the bus.
Crash details
The bus was travelling eastbound on the M3 motorway, about 87 miles east of Budapest, at around 1am on Sunday, August 16. According to police, it is likely that the driver fell asleep, causing the accident, and has since been taken into custody.
Hungary's National Directorate for Disaster Management stated that 57 passengers and two drivers were on the bus at the time. Several passengers were trapped under the vehicle when it overturned.
Victims and response
Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Maciej Wewior told Polish news agency PAP that all people on the bus were Polish citizens. The regional government in Rzeszow, Poland, said the passengers were from the south-eastern Podkarpackie region and were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said at least 10 people were seriously injured and offered condolences to the victims' families, thanking rescue workers. Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed "deep sorrow" over the accident, writing on X: "I join the families and loved ones of the victims in prayer and deep sympathy."
