A tragic overnight bus crash in Hungary has claimed the lives of 12 people and left at least 10 others seriously injured, after a Polish-registered passenger bus veered off the M3 motorway and overturned in a roadside ditch.

The crash happened at around 1 a.m. Sunday, August 16, near the town of Mezőkeresztes, roughly 140 kilometers east of Budapest. Police said the bus was traveling toward Nyíregyháza when it left a straight section of the highway, entered a ditch and overturned.

Driver may have fallen asleep
Authorities said the preliminary investigation points to a devastating possibility: the driver may have fallen asleep behind the wheel.

The driver was taken into custody as investigators began examining exactly what happened in the moments before the bus suddenly left the roadway. The cause remains subject to investigation.

Passengers trapped inside the overturned bus
The crash triggered a major emergency response. Firefighters and rescue crews rushed to the scene and had to enter the overturned coach through its windows to reach passengers trapped inside.

By around 3 a.m., rescuers had reportedly freed dozens of people from the vehicle, while some passengers were trapped beneath the overturned bus.

At least 10 people suffered serious injuries and were taken for medical treatment, according to Hungarian officials.

Polish tourists among those involved
The bus was registered in Poland, and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski confirmed that Polish tourists were involved in the tragedy. Polish authorities said they were in contact with Hungarian officials as the investigation and identification process continued.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar expressed condolences to the victims’ families and thanked emergency workers who responded to the crash.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki also expressed his sorrow for those who lost their lives and sympathy for their loved ones.

The investigation is now focused on reconstructing the final moments before the bus left the motorway. For the families of the 12 victims, however, the overnight journey has ended in an unimaginable tragedy.