Twelve Dead, Ten Seriously Injured in Hungarian Bus Crash Involving Polish Pilgrims

A devastating road accident in Hungary has claimed the lives of 12 people and left at least 10 others seriously injured after a bus carrying Polish pilgrims overturned on a highway. The bus was traveling on the M3 highway near Mezokeresztes, east of Budapest, when it veered off the road and rolled into a ditch around 11 p.m. local time.

All 57 passengers and two drivers on board were Polish nationals from the Podkarpackie region, returning from a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Initial police investigations suggest the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, leading to the catastrophic loss of control. The driver survived the crash and has been taken into custody. In addition to the fatalities and serious injuries, 37 passengers sustained minor injuries, with most survivors being transported to hospitals.

This tragic incident marks the worst road accident in Hungary in 23 years, surpassing a 2003 collision between a train and a German tourist bus that resulted in 33 deaths. In response to the tragedy, Polish authorities have announced stricter controls on bus safety and driver working hours. A team of Polish prosecutors will also participate in the investigation into the cause of the crash.