The mayor of Dąbrowa Górnicza appealed against using the death of MP Łukasz Litewka to criticize the condition of local roads following a collision.
MP Litewka’s Death and Road Condition Concerns
Following the tragic death of MP Łukasz Litewka in a bicycle accident, the Dąbrowa Górnicza city government had recently announced a tender for the reconstruction of the street where the incident occurred. Mayor Marcin Bazylak called for responsibility in attributing the accident to the road’s condition, stating he would not allow the tragedy to be used for current assessments or accusations.
Łukasz Litewka, a Left party MP and known for his charitable work, died tragically on Thursday afternoon after being struck by a car while cycling on Kazimierzowska Street in Dąbrowa Górnicza. Police reported the incident occurred after 1:00 PM.
Planned Roadworks and Public Reaction
Ironically, Mayor Bazylak announced the tender for the reconstruction of Kazimierzowska Street on social media Thursday morning. The road, connecting the Strzemieszyce and Kazimierz Górniczy districts, had long been in need of repair, with planned work including subgrade replacement and new surface paving.
After news of the MP’s death, a heated discussion erupted on the mayor’s social media post, with users suggesting the poor road condition may have contributed to the accident.
Mayor’s Response and Investigation Details
Marcin Bazylak firmly rejected attempts to link the infrastructure’s state to the tragedy. He emphasized that preliminary police findings indicated the car driver may have fallen asleep, resulting in a head-on collision with the cyclist.
“I do not agree with using human tragedy for current assessments or accusations. If the road surface had been good, there would have been no decision to make such a costly investment,” the mayor wrote, appealing for prudence in forming opinions.
The city has consistently implemented a strategy to improve safety, constructing approximately 40 km of new bicycle paths in recent years.
Driver Detained and Ongoing Investigation
Bartosz Kilian, spokesperson for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Sosnowiec, confirmed the identity of the deceased and stated that the 57-year-old car driver had been detained. A preliminary breathalyzer test showed the driver was sober. Investigators have secured blood samples for further laboratory analysis and are currently verifying the possibility of the driver experiencing a sudden illness or falling asleep.
Remembering Łukasz Litewka
Łukasz Litewka was a prominent figure in Polish politics, known for his extensive social engagement. His #TeamLitewka foundation regularly supported children’s medical treatment and animal rescue.
He gained recognition for his innovative 2023 election campaign, featuring images of shelter dogs awaiting adoption instead of political slogans on his posters. After the elections, these banners were donated to shelters as insulation material for animal enclosures.