A tragic incident occurred early Sunday in Hungary as a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the highway near the town of Mezokeresztes, overturning in a ditch. The accident resulted in the loss of 12 lives and left several others injured.
The bus was traveling on the eastbound lanes of the M3 motorway, approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest when the driver, suspected of falling asleep, lost control of the vehicle. Following the rollover, authorities took the driver into custody for questioning.
Reports from Hungary’s National Directorate for Disaster Management revealed that among the 57 passengers and two drivers onboard, many were trapped under the bus when it overturned. The passengers, all of Polish citizenship, were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as stated by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar confirmed that at least 10 individuals sustained severe injuries in the incident. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and commended the efforts of the rescue teams deployed to the site. Polish President Karol Nawrocki also expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, offering prayers and sympathy to the affected families.
This devastating event serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for vigilance while traveling.