A tragic incident occurred early Sunday in Hungary as a passenger bus veered off the highway near Mezokeresztes, overturning in a ditch and resulting in the death of 12 individuals with several others sustaining injuries. The bus, transporting Polish tourists, lost control on the M3 motorway, approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest, around 1 a.m. Authorities reported that the bus driver, suspected of falling asleep at the wheel, has been placed in custody.

According to Hungary’s National Directorate for Disaster Management, the bus was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers, with some passengers becoming trapped under the overturned vehicle. All individuals aboard the bus were confirmed to hold Polish citizenship, as stated by Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór.

The passengers, hailing from the southeastern Podkarpackie region, were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as disclosed by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar conveyed in a Facebook message that a minimum of 10 individuals sustained severe injuries. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and expressed gratitude to the prompt response of rescue teams.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki also expressed profound sadness over the accident, offering prayers and heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of the deceased.