Warsaw tram operator sentenced to prison for negligence leading to death of 4-year-old dragged under vehicle in August 2022.
The Tragedy
A 4-year-old child died after being dragged by a tram in Warsaw in August 2022 near Jagiellońska Street. The child, riding with their grandmother on an older Type 18 tram, exited at the Batalionu Plasterówek stop but had their foot trapped by the closing doors in the second carriage. The child was subsequently dragged along the tracks and died at the scene.
No Surveillance
Warsaw Tramways spokesperson Maciej Dutkiewicz stated in August 2023 that the tram involved lacked surveillance cameras. The driver could not see the rear doors in the mirror. Although the tram’s doors had a mechanism to prevent trapping passengers, tests conducted in the presence of the prosecutor confirmed it functioned correctly.
Court Verdict
Operator Robert S., with 14 years of experience, was found to have been using his phone and headphones during the incident. Prosecutor Katarzyna Skrzeczkowska noted he failed to properly monitor the rear doors and did not ensure it was safe to depart the stop. The driver has been sentenced to prison.
