An 18-year-old woman was critically injured in Warsaw when a police car ran a red light during a transport operation.
Accident Details
A traffic accident occurred on January 16 at the intersection of Okopowa and Leszno streets in Warsaw. An unmarked police Opel with privileged signals activated collided with a passenger car. Three people were hospitalized, including 18-year-old Anastazja, who was being transported in the police vehicle at the time.
Background: Police Operation
The accident was connected to a police operation conducted the previous day on Ursynów, where authorities broke up a group involved in human trafficking and drug trafficking. Two individuals were arrested, twelve were deported, and nine Ukrainian citizens were identified as victims of forced labor. The day following the operation, police officers were transporting the two arrested women to a detention unit on Wola.
Circumstances of the Crash
According to the Metropolitan Police Command, during transport, officers were uncertain whether the women were victims or members of the criminal group, leading to the use of handcuffs on those restrained in the back seat. The 18-year-old Anastazja was handcuffed and, as determined by investigators, was not wearing a seatbelt. Following the accident, she was hospitalized in critical condition.
Police Statement and Investigation
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the officer driving the police vehicle entered the intersection while the traffic light was red, despite having lights and sirens activated. A sobriety check at the scene found all drivers to be sober. Two arrested women and one police officer from the convoy were transported to the hospital.
Officer Suspended and Legal Proceedings
Investigations revealed that the officer had a standard category B driver’s license but lacked special authorization to operate vehicles with privileged signals. The Metropolitan Police Command initiated disciplinary and criminal proceedings, suspending the officer from duty on January 30. The Warsaw-Wola District Prosecutor’s Office is handling the case, with coordination from the Police Internal Affairs Office.
Victim’s Representative Concerns
Attorney Tymoteusz Paprocki, representing one of the victims, has raised concerns about the investigation process, pointing to a lack of formal charges and delays in expert appointments and medical documentation collection. Police authorities maintain full cooperation with the prosecution, stating that all accident circumstances are being thoroughly examined.
