The driver crashed into a brick bus shelter at high speed, destroying it and killing three of his passengers. Another driver cut him off. It was established, however, that if the accused had been driving more slowly, he would have been able to avoid the accident.
The incident occurred on 18 October 2014. That morning, Piotr U., who lived near Głogów, was driving his Chrysler Vision with three friends from towns near Lubin, aged 25, 26 and 36, to Wrocław. In Miłosna, on a section of road No. 36 before the intersection with road No. 1233D, he was driving at 100–105 km/h. The speed limit there was 50 km/h. The speed at which he was travelling was not safe.
When an unidentified car emerged from the minor road No. 1233D, from the direction of Miłoradzice, onto the lane leading towards Wrocław and forced the right of way, Piotr U. deprived himself of the possibility of stopping the car safely and consequently unintentionally caused a road accident.
The accused then turned left, causing the vehicle to veer towards the left shoulder. When he began braking, he lost control of the car and struck a road sign, followed by the brick shelter of a public transport stop.
As a result of the force of the impact, two passengers in the car died at the scene. The third died in hospital. All the victims suffered extensive multiple-organ injuries to the head and chest.
An expert in road accident reconstruction stated that if the driver had been travelling at the permitted speed, or even at 70–80 km/h, he would have stopped the vehicle at the intersection with the minor road, with no obstacle in his path.
The distance between Piotr U. and the centre of the intersection when the unidentified vehicle entered his lane was 65–75 metres. Travelling at 100–105 km/h, U. needed as much as 87–114 metres to stop.
The expert also stated that the driver of the unidentified vehicle, who emerged from the minor road, also contributed to the accident. This driver was required to exercise particular caution and yield the right of way to the accused. For this reason, the materials concerning this contribution to the road accident by forcing the right of way were separated into separate proceedings.
In light of the investigation’s findings, Piotr U. was charged with causing a fatal road accident. U. did not plead guilty and refused to provide explanations.
He faces up to eight years in prison. The case will be decided by the District Court in Lubin.
Prosecutor’s Office in Legnica/ii