A Polish coach carrying tourists overturned on Hungary's M3 motorway early Sunday, killing twelve people and injuring dozens more. Authorities suspect the driver fell asleep at the wheel.
A tragic accident on Hungary's M3 motorway claimed twelve lives in the early hours of Sunday when a Polish tour bus veered off the road and overturned in a ditch. The incident occurred around 01:00 local time on the route connecting Budapest to the northeastern city of Nyíregyháza. Police have indicated that driver fatigue may have contributed to the crash, with investigators believing the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel. The driver has since been taken into custody.
The bus was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers at the time of the accident. By Sunday afternoon, rescue teams had successfully extracted 35 people from the vehicle. Emergency personnel faced significant challenges in accessing those trapped, initially working to lift the rear axle of the 24-tonne bus before larger cranes were deployed to raise the entire vehicle from the ditch.
According to Hungary's ambulance service, the injured sustained varying degrees of harm. One person was treated for life-threatening injuries, nine others required care for serious injuries, and a further 37 received treatment for minor injuries. Prime Minister Péter Magyar released a statement expressing condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and offering wishes for the swift recovery of those injured.
