Twelve people were killed and at least 10 were injured after a Polish-registered tourist bus veered off a motorway and overturned in a ditch in eastern Hungary early Sunday.
The accident happened at around 1 a.m. on the M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes, about 140 kilometers east of Budapest.
The bus was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers and was traveling from Serbia toward Poland.
Reports said the passengers were returning from a pilgrimage to the Catholic shrine of Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Hungarian police said the bus left the road on a straight section of the motorway before crashing into a ditch and overturning.
Initial investigations indicated that the driver may have fallen asleep, causing the bus to veer off the road.
At least 10 people suffered serious injuries, while dozens of others sustained minor injuries.
Survivors were transported to hospitals in several cities, including Miskolc, Debrecen, Nyiregyhaza and Eger.
Polish authorities confirmed that all of those on board were Polish citizens.
The Polish government said its consular officials were in contact with Hungarian authorities and were providing assistance to the victims and their families.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar both expressed condolences to the victims and their loved ones following the tragedy.
(Photo Courtesy: AP)
