The defendant is 31-year-old Marek Z. Shortly after midnight on 13 August this year, he was driving a Nissan Almera while drunk (2.1‰ of alcohol in his system) with a female acquaintance from Kunice to Legnica. He was nervous and driving quite recklessly. Before the pedestrian crossing by the bridge on Wrocławska Street, instead of stopping—as another driver did—he drove around the car and onto the crossing, which the victim was crossing with his sister and mother. The women managed to jump aside. The 29-year-old was hit.

The pedestrian suffered severe bodily injuries, including open fractures of both legs and the right forearm, maxillofacial trauma, as well as a collapsed lung and liver damage. On 31 August this year, the young man died in hospital.

It was established that the defendant, Marek Z., had previously been convicted of driving a car under the influence of alcohol, and he got behind the wheel while a two-year driving ban was in force against him.

Due to concerns that he might obstruct the proceedings and evade law enforcement, as well as the severe penalty he faces, the suspect was placed in pre-trial detention at the prosecutor’s request.

Marek Z. is charged with:

  • driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol despite having previously been convicted of the same offence
  • causing a road accident under the influence of alcohol, resulting in the victim’s death.

When questioned as a suspect, Marek Z. confessed to committing the offence. He exercised his right to refuse to give an explanation, stating only that he did not remember the course of events exactly.

Marek Z. faces up to 12 years in prison. Under the legislation currently in force, Z. will also permanently lose his right to drive vehicles. Moreover, because he had previously been finally convicted of drunk driving, the court will have to order him to pay at least PLN 10,000 to the Fund for Assistance to Victims. For causing an accident under the influence of alcohol that resulted in the victim’s death, under the new legislation the court will also have to award compensation of at least PLN 10,000 to the victim’s immediate family.

In view of the great social danger posed by this type of conduct, the prosecutor will seek a severe sentence and substantial compensation awards.

The case will be heard by the District Court in Legnica.

Liliana Łukasiewicz, press spokesperson for the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Legnica/ii