A tragic incident occurred on an early Sunday morning in Hungary as a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the road and overturned into a ditch, resulting in the death of 12 individuals and injuries to several others. The bus, en route to Mezokeresztes on the eastbound lanes of the M3 motorway, approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest, met with the accident around 1 a.m.
According to authorities, the bus driver is suspected to have fallen asleep, leading to the mishap, and has been taken into custody. Hungary’s National Directorate for Disaster Management reported that among the 57 passengers and two drivers on board, some were trapped under the overturned vehicle.
All passengers aboard the bus were confirmed to hold Polish citizenship, as stated by Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór in an update to the press agency PAP. The travelers, originating from the southeastern Podkarpackie region, were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as disclosed by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, in a Facebook statement, acknowledged that at least 10 individuals sustained severe injuries in the accident. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and expressed gratitude towards the swift response of the rescue teams at the scene. Additionally, Polish President Karol Nawrocki conveyed profound sadness over the tragedy, offering prayers and sympathy to the affected families and friends.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety and the risks associated with driver fatigue in long-haul journeys.