12 Killed, 10 Seriously Injured as Polish Pilgrimage Bus Crashes in Hungary

A Polish-registered bus carrying pilgrims crashed on a motorway in eastern Hungary early Sunday, killing 12 people and seriously injuring at least 10 others, according to Hungarian authorities.

The accident occurred at around 1 a.m. local time on the M3 motorway near Mezőkeresztes, about 140 kilometres east of Budapest. Police said the bus left the highway, entered a roadside ditch and overturned.

Preliminary findings indicate that the driver may have fallen asleep, causing the vehicle to veer off the road. Authorities stressed that the investigation is continuing and the suspected cause has not yet been conclusively established.

The coach was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers, with the passengers reportedly Polish citizens from the Podkarpackie region. The group had been returning from a Catholic pilgrimage to Međugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a major pilgrimage destination, when the crash occurred.

Emergency services rushed to the scene following the accident. Rescue teams worked to reach passengers trapped inside or beneath the overturned vehicle. Several injured passengers were taken to hospitals in the surrounding region, with at least 10 reported to be in serious condition.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar expressed condolences to the families of those killed and thanked emergency workers involved in the rescue operation. Polish officials also conveyed their condolences and activated consular assistance for the victims and survivors.

The bus driver survived the crash and was taken into custody as authorities began examining the circumstances leading to the accident. Investigators are expected to assess the driver's condition, road conditions and other factors that could have contributed to the crash.

Polish diplomatic officials are coordinating with Hungarian authorities, while Polish investigators are also expected to participate in the inquiry. The tragedy has prompted a major investigation into one of the deadliest road accidents involving Polish passengers abroad in recent years. Authorities are expected to release further details as identification and investigative procedures continue.