A tragic bus accident occurred early Sunday in Hungary as a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the road and overturned in a ditch near the town of Mezokeresztes on the M3 motorway, approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest at around 1 a.m. The devastating incident resulted in the loss of 12 lives and left several others injured.

Authorities reported that the bus driver, suspected to have fallen asleep at the wheel, has been apprehended. The bus, carrying 57 passengers and two drivers, flipped over, trapping some passengers underneath the vehicle. It was revealed that all individuals aboard the bus held Polish citizenship, as confirmed by Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór.

The passengers were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, according to a statement from the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland, where they hailed from the southeastern Podkarpackie region. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar shared on Facebook that around 10 individuals sustained severe injuries. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and expressed gratitude towards the rescue teams deployed to the site.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki also expressed deep sorrow over the tragic event, offering prayers and heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of those affected. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the unforeseen tragedies that can occur during everyday journeys.