Two drivers face charges after a fatal accident on Warsaw’s Grochowska Street that killed a six-year-old boy.
Accident Details
On January 19 at around 3:00 PM, a tragic accident occurred at the intersection of Grochowska and Zamieniecka streets on Praga-Południe, in which a six-year-old boy died. The Prosecutor’s Office announced charges against both drivers – a 28-year-old woman driving a Ford and a 48-year-old driver of a Toyota – on suspicion of causing an accident with fatal consequences and injuries to other persons.
Circumstances of the Crash
The incident occurred in the area of Szembek Square, on Grochowska Street in the direction of Wesoła. According to preliminary police information, the driver of the Ford, while making a left turn, did not give way to the Toyota traveling on Grochowska Street. After the collision, the Toyota was knocked off its course and then hit a group of people waiting at the pedestrian crossing. As a result of the accident, one of the cars rolled over and fell onto the crossing.
Emergency Response
Emergency services, including the fire department and medical rescue teams, were at the scene. A helicopter of the Air Rescue also landed. There were traffic disruptions during the operations – buses were redirected to alternative routes, and later the road was reopened.
Victims and Medical Response
The boy was most seriously injured. Initially, services reported that he was 5 years old, but later it was confirmed that he was a six-year-old. The child was transported to the Children’s Hospital named after Prof. Dr. med. Jan Bogdanowicz, where – despite the actions of rescuers and doctors – he died. The hospital’s spokesperson informed that the boy was brought in “in a state of clinical death,” and resuscitation lasted for about another 30 minutes. Three women aged 30, 34, and 45 were also taken to hospitals. Additionally, according to medical information, two men were treated at the scene.
Legal Proceedings
Police tested drivers for alcohol content in exhaled air – both were sober. It was reported that they were traveling alone. On-site inspections were conducted under the supervision of a prosecutor, with the participation of an expert in road traffic. The same evening, police informed that, at the prosecutor’s decision, both drivers were detained. The case is being handled by the Warsaw-Praga Południe District Prosecutor’s Office. A spokeswoman for the Warsaw-Praga Regional Prosecutor’s Office, prosecutor Karolina Staros, stated that after analyzing the materials collected by the police, the prosecutor decided to charge both drivers under Article 177 § 1 and § 2 of the Penal Code, i.e., causing a traffic accident with fatal consequences for one person and bodily injuries to three other people.
Investigation Update
According to unofficial findings, investigators have footage from municipal monitoring and municipal vehicle cameras showing the course of the accident. The interrogations of the detained were conducted on Tuesday – first, the Toyota driver was interrogated, followed by the Ford driver. The Prosecutor’s Office announced that detailed information regarding the content of the charges could be provided after these activities were completed. On Tuesday, candles and flowers, as well as a photo of the boy, appeared at the site of the tragedy.
