The crash happened on a winding section of road between Noszlop and Ajka, in the Bakony region of Hungary. According to information released so far, the American soldier was driving a high-performance sports car at excessive speed and failed to adjust his driving to road and weather conditions. After losing control of the vehicle, he crossed into the opposite lane and collided head-on with a Hungarian family’s car, which was travelling normally.

The family vehicle was carrying five people: the parents and their three children, aged 9, 11 and 13, all seated in the back. The family had earlier been skating in Ajka. Emergency services transported all five to hospital following the collision.

The 43-year-old father sustained critical chest injuries and later died despite medical intervention. One of the children, an 11-year-old girl, suffered life-threatening chest and skull injuries, as well as injuries to her limbs, and remains in intensive care. Doctors continue to fight for her life. The mother and the two other children were treated in hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.

Rescue services confirmed that one of the children had to be cut free from the wreckage, as the family’s car was almost completely destroyed by the impact. The sports car driven by the US soldier was also badly damaged, and parts of it struck a third vehicle travelling nearby, causing additional damage. No serious injuries were reported in that vehicle.

Hungarian media reports suggest the US soldier may have misinterpreted the situation as a race while attempting to overtake another car. When that vehicle slowed down, the soldier reportedly accelerated sharply, lost control of his car and crashed into the oncoming family vehicle. Hungarian police are continuing to investigate the exact circumstances of the accident.

While authorities have not officially confirmed the soldier’s unit, the accident occurred within a short distance of Pápa Air Base. Several thousand US soldiers are currently stationed in Hungary, mainly at Pápa and Debrecen, as part of NATO and multinational defence operations.

Pápa Air Base hosts international military units, including the Strategic Airlift Capability programme, which operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of NATO missions.

The investigation into the fatal accident in Hungary remains ongoing.

MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only
 

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