Polish pilgrimage bus overturns on Hungary's M3 motorway, killing 12 and injuring at least 10
A Polish-registered tourist bus returning from a pilgrimage to Medjugorje overturned on the M3 motorway in eastern Hungary near Mezokeresztes at around 1:00 AM on 16 August, killing 12 people and seriously injuring at least 10 more. Police say the driver likely fell asleep at the wheel.
The crash
A Polish-registered tourist bus veered off the M3 motorway near the town of Mezokeresztes, roughly 140 kilometres east of Budapest, at around 1:00 AM on Sunday 16 August 2026. The bus ran into a roadside ditch and overturned on its side. Hungarian police said the vehicle was travelling towards the city of Nyíregyháza when the crash occurred on a straight stretch of road. Images from the scene showed a badly damaged red vehicle lying on its side in a ditch, with smashed windows and personal belongings scattered around the area.
- Bus veers off M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes into a ditch and overturns
- Firefighters report 35 people rescued from the bus; some passengers trapped underneath
- Hungarian PM Peter Magyar confirms 12 dead and at least 10 seriously injured on Facebook
- Polish MFA spokesperson Maciej Wewiór says 7 injured in very serious condition, about 40 with minor injuries
Casualties and rescue
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced on Facebook that 12 people were killed and at least 10 seriously injured. Polish MFA spokesperson Maciej Wewiór told PAP that 12 Polish citizens died, 7 of the injured were in very serious condition in Hungarian hospitals, and about 40 others sustained minor injuries and had already left or were about to leave hospital. Firefighters reported at 3:00 AM that 35 people had been rescued from the bus, with some passengers trapped underneath the vehicle. Civilian cranes were brought in to lift the 24-ton bus. The injured were taken to hospital.
- Killed
- 12 people
- Seriously injured
- 10 people
- Very serious condition (of injured)
- 7 people
- Minor injuries (approx.)
- 40 people
- Rescued by firefighters (by 3 AM)
- 35 people
Passengers and journey
The bus was carrying 57 passengers and 2 drivers, all Polish citizens. Tadeusz Dykas, owner of the transport company that operated the bus, told Radio ZET that the passengers were returning from a week-long pilgrimage to Medjugorje organised by the Floratur travel agency from the Podkarpacie region. Dykas said the bus was in very good condition and had passed a technical inspection a month earlier. He confirmed both drivers survived and were being questioned by police. Unofficially, five of the victims may have been residents of the village of Lubenia in Rzeszów county.
Cause and investigation
Hungarian police said preliminary information suggests the driver likely fell asleep at the wheel. The driver was detained by authorities, who are investigating the exact circumstances of the crash. Dykas said he was in Hungary but had no information about the cause. The M3 motorway section towards Nyíregyháza was closed following the accident.
Political response
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar offered his condolences to the families of the victims and thanked rescue workers dispatched to the scene. Polish President Karol Nawrocki said on X that he received the news with deep sorrow. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski confirmed on X that the consular service was operational and that Poland was in contact with Hungarian authorities.
The consular service is operational. We are in contact with the Hungarian authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide verified information.
PKO Ekstraklasa announced that Sunday league matches would be preceded by a minute of silence in honour of the victims.
