At least 12 people were killed when a packed tourist bus carrying Polish holidaymakers crashed into a ditch on Hungary's M3 motorway early on August 16, 2026. The accident occurred at approximately 1am local time near the town of Mezokeresztes, about 90 miles east of Budapest. Ten other passengers have been taken to hospital with injuries.
Fatal crash details
The bus was carrying 57 passengers and a driver en route to Nyiregyhaza when it veered off the motorway and tipped into a ditch. Footage from the scene shows the mangled wreckage lying in a ditch with suitcases scattered on the verge. Police have stated online that the driver is suspected of having fallen asleep at the wheel.
Official responses
Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed his condolences on X, saying: 'It is with deep sorrow that I received the tragic news of the Polish bus accident in Hungary, in which so many of our compatriots died.' Poland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radoslaw Sikorski, confirmed the 'tragic bus accident involving Polish tourists in Hungary' on X, adding: 'The consular service is acting. We are in contact with the Hungarian authorities.'
The Polish embassy has launched a hotline for concerned relatives, according to Sikorski.
Historical context
The accident is one of Hungary's deadliest road incidents. In 2017, a coach carrying Hungarian high school students aged 14 to 18 crashed and caught fire in Verona, Italy, as they returned from a ski trip. Sixteen people were killed and dozens suffered life-threatening injuries in that crash, with some bodies burned beyond recognition.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on supporting the victims' families and the injured. The Hungarian authorities are working with Polish consular services to provide assistance and determine the exact cause of the crash.
