Twelve killed as tourist bus crashes on Hungary's M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes

Twelve people have been killed after a tourist bus carrying Polish holidaymakers crashed into a ditch on Hungary's M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes. The crash happened at about 1am local time on Sunday, according to the supplied report, as the vehicle was travelling east towards Nyiregyhaza. Ten other passengers were taken to hospital with injuries.

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The bus was carrying 57 passengers and a driver when it veered off the motorway, the report said. Police suspect the driver may have fallen asleep before the crash. The scene was described as severe, with the bus left in a ditch and luggage scattered along the verge.

The incident has prompted a response from Polish officials because the victims were Polish nationals on holiday. Poland's president said he had received the news with deep sorrow, while the foreign minister said consular services were acting and were in contact with Hungarian authorities. A hotline has also been opened for relatives seeking information.

The crash is significant because it involved a large group of international travellers and caused a high number of fatalities in a single road incident. The M3 is one of Hungary's main motorway routes, linking the capital with the north-east of the country, and the stretch near Mezokeresztes is around 90 miles east of Budapest. Mass-casualty road crashes can quickly become cross-border consular cases when foreign nationals are involved, adding pressure on emergency services and diplomatic channels.

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The available information points to a sudden loss of control rather than a collision with another vehicle, but the exact sequence of events has not been confirmed. Police have indicated that driver fatigue is being considered, although that remains a suspicion rather than a concluded finding. The report does not say whether weather, road conditions or mechanical issues played any role.

Further details are expected from Hungarian investigators and from the Polish consular response as the situation develops. It is not yet clear how many of the injured remain in hospital or whether any of the victims have been formally identified. The key questions now are what caused the bus to leave the motorway and what support will be provided to the passengers, their families and the injured survivors.

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