Patryk F. has been charged with multiple offenses, including intentional manslaughter, after driving into pedestrians in Międzyzdroje, Poland on December 23, 2023.
Incident Details
The incident occurred around 6:00 PM on December 23, 2023, in Międzyzdroje, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, when Patryk F. was driving at 130 km/h through city streets.
As he approached Dąbrówki Street, he saw a couple, identified as the W. family, walking with their two children. The accused reportedly closed his eyes and braked heavily, but failed to correct his course and struck the pedestrians, according to Szczecin District Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Julia Szozda.
Fatalities and Injuries
The W. couple and their son sustained severe multi-organ injuries and died at the scene. Their young daughter suffered minor injuries.
At the time of the incident, Patryk F. was under the influence of MDMA (ecstasy).
Additional Charges
Patryk F. also faces charges for driving under the influence, vandalism (damage to a window and vehicle body), and possession of psychotropic substances and “legal highs.”
Suspect’s Admission and Potential Sentence
The 38-year-old suspect has confessed to driving the vehicle that struck the pedestrians. He has no prior criminal record and faces a potential life sentence.
Road Accident Statistics
In 2025, Polish police recorded 20,925 road accidents, a 2.8% decrease from 2024. The number of fatalities also decreased significantly, from 1,896 in 2024 to 1,660 in 2025 – a drop of 12.4%.
However, the number of road collisions increased to 391,811 in 2025 (a 0.3% rise).
Driving Under the Influence
The number of drivers found to be driving “under the influence” increased in 2025 to 92,532, a rise of 208 cases (0.2%). Police revoked 77,875 driver’s licenses in the past year.
Among those revocations, 24,341 were for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h in built-up areas, a 3% increase compared to 2024.