Driver under drug influence arrested in Budapest after fatal crash
The 34-year-old man drove into the oncoming lane while intoxicated on 3 September 2026, causing the death of a 62-year-old man. The Central District Court of Buda ordered his detention on 5 September.
Driver arrested in fatal Soroksári Road crash under drug influence
On 5 September 2026, the Central District Court of Buda detained a 34-year-old man who caused a fatal traffic accident whilst under the influence of drugs in Budapest's ninth district, according to the Metropolitan Court. According to Index's report, the detention is valid until 5 October 2026 at the latest, pending the first-instance court's preliminary hearing order.
According to the well-founded suspicion, the defendant was driving a passenger car in the inner traffic lane of Soroksári Road at approximately 6 a.m. on 3 September 2026. For an unknown reason, he moved into the oncoming lane and then collided with another passenger car travelling in the outer traffic lane. As a result of the collision, the 62-year-old driver of the other car struck a roadside verge and a no-parking post, and died at the scene. A rapid drug test performed on the suspect at the scene returned a positive result.
The prosecution requested detention to prevent the risk of flight and concealment and to prevent recidivism – the court found the request well-founded. The offence attributed to him – causing death through driving whilst under the influence – is punishable by a prison sentence of between two and eight years, and according to the court, the severity of this threat in itself increases the risk of flight.
In its order, the court gave particular weight to the suspect's criminal history. The man had previously been convicted of drug-related offences, and only just over four months after the expiration of his conditional release, he again became the subject of well-founded suspicion. Moreover, he committed the act causing the accident merely one week after a coercive measure applied in a parallel criminal proceeding against him was terminated.
The court found that neither his previous convictions, nor administrative proceedings, nor the parallel criminal proceeding had deterred the defendant from committing a further offence. Based on the result of the on-site rapid test and his previous drug-related convictions, it is probable that his substance use has persisted for a prolonged period, indicating low willingness to voluntarily comply with norms. The court concluded that if released on bail, the suspect would in all likelihood commit another offence punishable by imprisonment, and therefore detention was necessary.
The suspect and his defence counsel have appealed against the order, which is not final.
Source: Index