A tragic incident occurred in Hungary early Sunday when a passenger bus carrying Polish tourists veered off the road and overturned in a ditch, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals and injuries to several others. The bus, en route on the eastbound lanes near Mezokeresztes, 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 detained. Hungary’s National Directorate for Disaster Management stated that the bus was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers, with some passengers trapped under the vehicle following the overturn.

According to Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór, all individuals onboard held Polish citizenship. The passengers, hailing from the southeastern Podkarpackie region, were returning from a pilgrimage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as confirmed by the regional government in Rzeszow, Poland.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, in a Facebook post, mentioned that at least 10 people sustained severe injuries in the accident. He extended his sympathies to the victims’ families and appreciated the efforts of the rescue teams deployed to the site. Polish President Karol Nawrocki also expressed profound grief over the tragedy, offering prayers and condolences to the affected families and friends.