What happened in the Polish bus crash in Hungary near Mezokeresztes?

A Polish-registered bus overturned after veering off the M3 motorway into a ditch near Mezokeresztes in eastern Hungary. Police said 12 people died and at least 10 were injured, while the driver was taken into custody.

Why did Hungarian police say the bus may have crashed near Nyiregyhaza?

Police said preliminary information suggests the driver likely fell asleep. The bus was heading toward Nyiregyhaza when it ran off a straight stretch of road and overturned.

What did Poland say after the bus accident in Hungary?

Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the consular service was working with Hungarian authorities. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would provide verified information.

12 killed, at least 10 injured in Polish bus crash in Hungary

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Summary

A dozen people were killed and at least 10 injured when a Polish bus overturned on a motorway in eastern Hungary early Sunday near Mezokeresztes. Police said the bus was heading toward Nyiregyhaza, ran into a ditch and tipped over. Hungarian police said preliminary information suggests the driver likely fell asleep, and the driver was taken into custody.

Key Facts

State news agency MTI said the bus carried 57 passengers and two drivers.
Police said the bus was a Polish-registered vehicle traveling on the M3 motorway toward Nyiregyhaza.
The injured were taken to hospital after the crash.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said he received the tragic news of the accident in Hungary, and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the consular service was operational and in contact with Hungarian authorities.

By Reuters

Published Aug 16, 2026 4:03 pm KST

Emergency services attend the scene after a tourist bus travelling from Poland went off the road and overturned in a ditch along the M3 motorway between Mezokeresztes and Mezonagymihaly, Hungary, Aug. 16. EPA-Yonhap

BUDAPEST — A dozen people were killed and at least 10 injured after a Polish bus overturned at night on a motorway in eastern Hungary, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Sunday morning in a Facebook post.

The bus ran into a ditch and tipped over early on Sunday near the town of Mezokeresztes in eastern Hungary, police said, adding that the bus was heading towards the city of Nyiregyhaza on the motorway when the accident happened.

State news agency MTI said there were 57 passengers and two drivers on the bus. Pictures from the scene showed a badly damaged red bus lying on one side in a ditch by the motorway with windows smashed and belongings and suitcases scattered around.

"A Polish-registered bus travelling on the M3 motorway towards Nyiregyhaza ... veered off the straight stretch of road into a ditch and overturned. Preliminary information suggests the driver likely fell asleep," police said on their website.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki said on X: "It is with deep sorrow that I received the tragic news of the Polish bus accident in Hungary, in which so many of our compatriots died."

Twelve people lost their lives and several others were injured in the accident, police said, adding that they were taking the bus driver into custody.

The injured have been taken to hospital.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on X that a "tragic accident" involving a bus carrying Polish tourists happened in Hungary.

"The consular service is operational. We are in contact with the Hungarian authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide verified information," he said.

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