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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Rachel Hagan

Budapest crash: Horrific 42-vehicle motorway pile-up as wreckage bursts into flames

A horrific motorway pile-up has killed one and left around 42 vehicles involved charred beyond repair.

A total of 39 people, including 10 children, were injured while one dead body was found amid the wreckage.

Five lorries and 37 cars were involved in the pile-up on the M1 motorway near the village of Herceghalom on Saturday believed to be caused by a dust storm in Hungary.

The accident happened at kilometre 26 in the direction heading away from Budapest at around 2.25 pm and caused the motorway to be closed in both directions.

Rescue workers arrived on the scene with four helicopters and 16 ambulances and took 39 people to hospitals in Gyor, Tatabanya, Szekesfehervar and Budapest.

Two are reported to have sustained life-threatening injuries, while 12 are in serious condition.

One person died while 39, including 10 children, were injured (@katasztrofavedelem_hivatalos/Newsflash)

The deceased person, a 44-year-old man, was not found until the next morning, local media reported.

Firefighters from Bicske also arrived on the scene to cool down the vehicles and put out the fire.

The Hungarian Concession Infrastructure Development, which operates and maintains the motorway network, believes a localised dust storm may have caused the mass collision.

The devastating scene after dozens of vehicles collided in a pile-up (@PoliceHungaryOfficial/Newsflash)

Horrific dashcam footage of the pile-up as it took place appears to show dust blowing and suddenly reducing visibility.

A criminal investigation has been opened into the incident.

Traffic has since resumed on the motorway in both directions.

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