Hungarian court denies release for Polish driver in fatal bus crash

The Miskolc Court of Appeal in Hungary has rejected a defense motion to release a Polish bus driver from custody following a fatal accident on the M3 motorway. The 62-year-old driver, Robert M., will remain in pretrial detention at least until September 18.

The accident occurred on August 16 involving a bus carrying 57 passengers and two drivers returning from a pilgrimage in Medjugorine. The crash resulted in 12 deaths and 47 injuries. Investigators suspect the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, and he faces charges of causing a mass casualty accident through negligence.

While the presiding judge acknowledged that the driver's foreign citizenship and the expected verdict do not inherently prove a flight risk, the court ruled that his lack of ties to Hungary justifies continued detention to prevent him from leaving the country.