Eight foreign nationals killed in two successive crashes on Hungary’s M1 motorway near Győr

What happened

Two fatal accidents occurred within forty minutes on the M1 motorway in western Hungary on the morning of 12 June 2026. At around 04:30, a truck struck a construction vehicle near Győr, at kilometre 114. The truck caught fire, and its driver – reported by Moldovan diplomats to be a Turkish citizen – died. The wreckage created a traffic jam.

Around 05:10, at kilometre 113, a minibus carrying nine people ploughed into a stationary lorry that had stopped because of the earlier congestion. Seven occupants of the minibus were killed at the scene; two others were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Hungarian police stated that all victims of the two crashes were male.

Nationalities and registration plates

Moldova’s foreign ministry said that the deceased included Moldovan, Romanian and Turkish nationals, noting that some individuals held both Moldovan and Romanian citizenship. The minibus bore Moldovan registration plates. The identity of the truck involved in the first crash remains a point of discrepancy: the Moldovan ministry cited a Turkish-plated lorry driven by a Turkish citizen, while Hungarian police told the news site 24.hu that the truck also had Moldovan plates.

Official reaction

Prime Minister Péter Magyar expressed condolences and requested an immediate report on road safety along the M1 diversion zone.

“On behalf of the government, I offer my sincere condolences to the families of the eight foreigners who died in the accidents.”

The crash reignited public debate about safety at construction sites on Hungary’s busiest motorway.

Investigation

Authorities closed the Vienna-bound carriageway to allow emergency crews and investigators to work. Traffic was diverted while police examined the circumstances of both collisions. The formal identification of victims is ongoing.