A collision involving two minibuses on the S17 highway near Kołbiel, Warsaw, on Wednesday, April 2nd, resulted in one death and multiple injuries.
Accident Details
The accident occurred at approximately 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 2nd, on the 22nd kilometer of the S17 highway, just past Kołbiel in the direction of Lublin. A Volkswagen and a Citroen minibus were involved.
Five people were traveling in the two vehicles. Before the arrival of emergency services, two individuals exited one of the buses, and one person exited the other. Two people were trapped inside one of the vehicles.
Rescue Operation
Firefighters reported that two people were pinned inside one of the buses, with one being unresponsive. Seven fire crews were dispatched to the scene.
Both trapped individuals were extricated using hydraulic tools after 4:30 PM. One was conscious and transferred to paramedics, while the other was pronounced dead at the scene. The survivor was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
Road Closure and Traffic Disruption
The S17 highway was closed in the direction of Lublin following the accident. The route was completely impassable in both directions during the helicopter landing and takeoff.
The General Directorate for National Roads and Highways estimated that disruptions could last approximately 2.5 hours. Police redirected traffic via the Kołbiel interchange. Drivers formed a safety corridor.
Investigation Underway
Police are investigating the cause of the accident. Preliminary reports indicate that only the two minibuses were involved.
The circumstances surrounding the collision are being investigated at the scene by the District Police Headquarters in Otwock.
