12 Polish tourists killed in Hungary bus crash, driver held
At least 12 people were killed and 10 others injured when a Polish-registered bus overturned on a motorway in eastern Hungary early Sunday, police and officials said. The accident occurred near the town of Mezokeresztes, about 160 kilometres northeast of Budapest, as the bus was travelling towards the city of Nyiregyhaza on the M3 motorway.
Hungarian police said the bus ran into a ditch and tipped over on a straight stretch of road. Preliminary information suggests the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel. The driver, who survived the crash, has been taken into custody, police added.
According to state news agency MTI, the bus was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers. Images from the scene showed a badly damaged red bus lying on its side in a ditch, with smashed windows and scattered luggage. Emergency services, including multiple ambulances and fire crews, were deployed to the site.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar expressed condolences in a Facebook post, confirming the death toll. He said authorities were providing assistance to the injured and cooperating with Polish officials. Police confirmed that 12 people lost their lives and several others were injured, with the wounded taken to hospitals for treatment.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said in a post on X: “It is with deep sorrow that I received the tragic news of the Polish bus accident in Hungary, in which so many of our compatriots died.” He offered his sympathies to the families of the victims.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also reacted, writing on X that a “tragic accident” involving a bus carrying Polish tourists had occurred in Hungary. “The consular service is operational. We are in contact with the Hungarian authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide verified information,” he said.
The M3 motorway, a major route connecting Budapest with eastern Hungary and towards Ukraine, was partially closed for several hours as investigators examined the scene and recovery operations were carried out. The cause of the accident is under full investigation.
This is one of the deadliest road accidents involving Polish citizens abroad in recent years. In 2017, a bus carrying Polish pilgrims crashed in Croatia, killing several people. Road safety experts have long called for stricter regulations on long-distance coach travel, including mandatory rest breaks for drivers.
The Hungarian police have asked witnesses to come forward and said they are working with Polish authorities to notify families and provide consular support. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, some with serious but not life-threatening injuries, according to local media reports.
The tragedy has prompted expressions of sympathy from leaders across Europe. The European Commission offered its condolences, and neighbouring countries including Slovakia and the Czech Republic sent messages of support. The incident also reignited attention on the dangers of night-time driving on motorways, where fatigue is a common factor in accidents.
As the investigation continues, both Hungarian and Polish governments have pledged to establish the exact circumstances of the crash and ensure accountability. The bus driver's detention is not an indication of guilt but a procedural step to facilitate the inquiry, authorities said.
