At least 12 people died and dozens more were injured, including at least 10 seriously, when a bus with Polish number plates overturned on a Hungarian motorway in the early hours of Sunday, according to Prime Minister Péter Magyarand the authorities.
The crash
The accident occurred at around 01:00 local time on the M3 motorway, near the town of Mezőkeresztes, east of Budapest. The coach, travelling from Serbia to Poland, was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers. According to Hungary's national disaster management agency, the vehicle "veered off the road, ended up in a ditch and overturned onto its side."
Casualties
Eleven people died at the scene, while a further victim died later in hospital. Ambulance services reported that 37 passengers sustained minor injuries. Firefighters and rescue workers had to free several injured passengers by pulling them out through the vehicle's windows.
Context
This is the worst road accident in Hungary since 2003, when a train collision with a German tourist bus in Siófok killed 33 people.
Prime Minister's statement
Prime Minister Péter Magyar offered his condolences via social media: "I extend my sincere condolences to the families of the victims and thank everyone involved in the rescue operation."
