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Coach driver dies after bus bursts into flames in fatal Slovakia crash en route to Budapest
A Polish long-distance coach travelling from Kraków to Budapest was involved in a fatal crash in central Slovakia in the early hours of Tuesday morning, leaving the driver dead and several passengers injured.
According to a report by Új Szó, the coach collided head-on with a timber-laden lorry near the village of Liptovská Osada (Oszada), in the district of Ružomberok (Rózsahegy), at around 3 AM.
Bus caught fire after impact
The impact caused the bus to burst into flames. The driver became trapped inside the cab and died at the scene despite rescue efforts. Slovak media described the incident as a particularly severe traffic tragedy.
Emergency services dispatched four ambulances to the crash site. Around 26–30 passengers, mostly Polish nationals, were treated on the spot.
Two seriously injured
Paramedics said a 53-year-old man with multiple injuries was transported to hospital in Ružomberok, while a 47-year-old woman suffering a fractured thigh and head injuries was taken to a facility in Banská Bystrica (Besztercebánya). A 37-year-old woman with minor head and arm injuries declined further treatment.
After initial care, the remaining passengers were evacuated by bus to a nearby municipal building in Liptovské Revúce (Háromrevuca) to await onward arrangements.
Road closed for hours
The affected road section, which connects Ružomberok with Banská Bystrica, was closed for several hours while firefighters removed the wreckage and secured the scene.
Police confirmed that the lorry driver tested negative for alcohol and have launched a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision.
The coach had been operating an international service between Poland and Hungary at the time of the accident.
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Featured image: illustration, depositphotos.com