Paweł Kozanecki, convicted in a crash that killed two women, is wanted by police after failing to report to prison.
Lawyer Sentenced, Appeal Partially Successful
Paweł Kozanecki was definitively convicted in March for causing a crash resulting in the deaths of two women. The Regional Court in Olsztyn reduced the sentence from the first-instance ruling (two years imprisonment and a five-year driving ban in April 2025) to one year and six months imprisonment, along with a four-year driving ban.
Electronic Monitoring Request Pending
In March, the man’s defense attorney filed a request with the Łódź court for permission to serve his sentence under electronic monitoring. This request has not yet been considered. According to regulations, electronic monitoring can be ordered if the prison sentence is no more than one year and six months and there are no obstacles to its application.
Warrant Issued for Kozanecki’s Arrest
However, in the absence of such a decision, the convicted man should now report to a correctional facility. A wanted notice for Paweł Kozanecki was published on April 30th on police websites, with the search being led by the 3rd Police Station in Łódź.
Police Confirm Search
Police are conducting the search based on an arrest warrant issued on April 22nd by the District Court in Olsztyn, aiming for Kozanecki to serve his sentence, according to Police Subcomm. Kamila Sowińska of the Łódź City Police Headquarters.
Lawyer Unaware of Warrant
Contacted for comment, one of Paweł Kozanecki’s attorneys stated they learned of the search from our inquiry.
The “Coffin on Wheels” Case: 2021 Crash
The crash occurred in September 2021 on the Barczewo-Jeziorany road. The indictment alleges that Paweł Kozanecki, driving a Mercedes, violated traffic safety rules, crossed a double solid line, and entered the opposing lane, causing a collision with an oncoming Audi 80. The driver and passenger of the Audi died at the scene.
Controversial Post-Accident Statement
The fatal crash gained notoriety when Kozanecki shortly after recorded and published a video online, stating the accident was a confrontation between a safe car and a “coffin on wheels,” implying this contributed to the women’s deaths. The statement, posted on social media, caused public outrage.
Professional Suspension and Disciplinary Proceedings
Paweł K. is currently suspended from practicing law. Upon receiving the grounds for the final verdict, the disciplinary prosecutor of the Bar Council will investigate the case. Grounds for removing a lawyer from the list of attorneys by the District Bar Council include the loss of civil rights or the right to practice the profession based on a court ruling.
A disciplinary court’s penalty of exclusion from the bar association can also serve as grounds for removal. However, a final conviction does not automatically lead to exclusion from the legal profession, according to Łódź District Bar Council spokesperson adw. Justyna Cheda-Onisk in April.