Bear Killed After Being Hit by Car on Zakopane Road as Police Issue Warning

A Mercedes driver struck and killed a bear on the Oswald Balzer road near Brzeziny on Sunday evening, prompting Zakopane police to urge drivers to exercise extreme caution amid heavy tourist traffic.

Mercedes Driver Hits Bear Near Brzeziny

A driver of a Mercedes Vito car struck a bear on Sunday, August 9, after 7:00 PM on the Oswald Balzer road in the Brzeziny area. The animal did not survive, while the driver sustained no serious injuries.

Zakopane Police Statement on Traffic and Tourism

Zakopane police reported on Facebook that the bear’s death was caused by increased traffic and, most likely, a lack of due caution. Officers noted that the peak holiday season brings thousands of tourists driving through the Tatra County roads, preventing wild animals from crossing. Personnel from the Tatra National Park removed the dead bear for further examination.

Previous Incident Near Kościeliska Valley

A similar incident occurred on July 29 just before 3:00 PM, when a Seat car driver fatally hit a bear in the area of the Kościeliska Valley. Zakopane traffic police and the Tatra National Park Park Guard intervened at the scene.

Police Appeal for Caution and Night Driving Rules

Officers reported that incidents involving wild animals happen most frequently between dusk and dawn, a time when drivers should exercise special caution. Police warned never to disregard the A18-b “Beware of wild animals” road sign, advising motorists to slow down and maintain a steady speed so they have time to react to danger, noting that the behavior of animals running onto the road is unpredictable.