12 killed as Polish bus overturns on motorway in eastern Hungary

Mezokeresztes, Hungary. Twelve people were killed and at least 10 others injured when a Polish-registered bus overturned on the M3 motorway in eastern Hungary early on Sunday, authorities said.

Accident investigation

The bus was travelling towards Nyiregyhaza when it left a straight section of road near Mezokeresztes, entered a ditch and overturned, police said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar reported the deaths and injuries in a Facebook post on Sunday morning.

Police said preliminary information indicated that the driver may have fallen asleep. The driver was being taken into custody.

Passengers and response

State news agency MTI reported that the bus was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers.

Images from the scene showed the damaged red bus lying on its side in a ditch beside the motorway, with broken windows and luggage scattered nearby.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki said he had received the news of the accident with deep sorrow, referring to the victims as compatriots.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the bus was carrying Polish tourists and that consular services were operating and in contact with Hungarian authorities. He said Poland’s foreign ministry would provide verified information.