The District Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra has filed an indictment with the local Regional Court against two men who, on the evening of October 27, 2018, caused the deaths of two pedestrians while taking part in a street race.
Investigators:
The drivers of the passenger cars took part in an illegal race through the streets of Jelenia Góra, traveling—as established by an expert—inclusion at speeds of 160 to 180 kilometers per hour, from the city center toward Wrocław.
Along the way, the drivers passed three intersections and six pedestrian crossings, exceeding the speed limit by more than 100 kilometers per hour.
When the perpetrators were approaching a marked and illuminated pedestrian crossing, two people were on it: a 47-year-old woman and a 57-year-old man, who were crossing the road properly.
The driver of a Seat, who at that moment was several meters ahead of the other race participant, struck the victims while entering the pedestrian crossing. They died at the scene.
The Seat was driven by 25-year-old Łukasz O.; the 21-year-old Oskar L. was behind the wheel of the Volkswagen.
The prosecution charged both drivers with committing murder with conditional intent, acting jointly and in agreement and “taking part in an illegal car race, anticipating the possibility of depriving the victims of their lives and accepting that possibility.” In addition, their conduct allegedly created an immediate risk of a disaster in land traffic.
Neither O. nor L. admitted guilt.
The District Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra filed a motion with the local District Court to remand both suspects in temporary custody for three months. The court granted the motion.
Subsequently, following an appeal by the defense lawyers, the Regional Court lifted the detention of the Volkswagen driver. (The Seat driver remains in custody.)
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra:
The defendants had not previously been convicted of crimes, although they had committed traffic offenses, including speeding and causing collisions.
A meticulous investigation was conducted, including the questioning of numerous witnesses and inspections of the scene and the vehicles. Surveillance recordings were secured, and numerous expert opinions were obtained, including in forensic medicine, traffic-accident reconstruction, vehicle technology and accident biomechanics. A procedural experiment was also conducted at the scene.
Both vehicles involved in the incident underwent detailed examinations. Experts found, among other things, that the parameters of the power-unit control systems had been modified in a similar manner, significantly increasing their power and, consequently, their acceleration and speed capabilities.
According to the experts, without simultaneously redesigning and adapting the remaining components, including the braking system and wheels, such vehicles became dangerous. Other modifications were also found in the cars.
The investigation also established that both defendants had attended meetings organized by an informal group of motoring enthusiasts in Jelenia Góra. A mobile phone secured from one of them contained, among other things, a recording showing another dangerous drive.
The investigation found that neither the external conditions nor the victims’ behavior contributed in any way to the incident, and that the defendants made no maneuvers aimed at avoiding it.
Both race participants could face life imprisonment.