26-year-old Hubert B. faces charges over a fatal crash in Kraków’s Podgórze district. His Volkswagen Golf mounted the pavement and struck a walking family. The parents died; the infant is in stable condition.
The tragedy occurred on Saturday, 22 August, shortly before 6 p.m., near Solna and Nadwiślańska streets. The driver of the Volkswagen Golf lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway and drove onto the pavement. A 32-year-old married couple, Mateusz S. and Klaudia S., were walking there with a pram containing their several-month-old son, Oliwier.
Both parents were taken to hospital in serious condition. Despite the efforts of doctors, they died the same day. The boy suffered multiple organ injuries. His condition was initially described as serious; it is now stable.
How the crash happened, according to investigators
Prosecutor Mariusz Boroń from the District Prosecutor’s Office in Kraków cited a preliminary opinion from an expert in accident reconstruction. It indicates that Hubert B. was driving at about 70 km/h in an area where the speed limit was 30 km/h.
The loss of control occurred on a bend. The car left the road, mounted the pavement and struck pedestrians who were moving correctly. Besides the driver, three passengers aged 27 to 28 were in the car. A breathalyzer test showed no alcohol in the 26-year-old’s system. Blood samples were also taken for further testing.
The Volkswagen Golf driven by Hubert B. is a high-performance model. He had collected it from the dealership only a month earlier.
Hubert B. charged and denies guilt
On Monday, 24 August, the 26-year-old was brought to the prosecutor’s office. He was charged with intentionally violating road traffic safety rules by failing to observe the speed limit. As a result, he unintentionally caused a crash in which two people died and a child was seriously injured. He faces up to 8 years in prison.
Hubert B. denies guilt. He claimed he lost control of the car while trying to correct a skid. He also pointed to the uneven road surface and insisted he was not driving too fast.
The prosecution applied for temporary detention. The District Court in Kraków granted the request and ordered three months’ custody. The reasons given were the risk of collusion and the possibility of a severe sentence given the circumstances of the incident.
What is known about the child's condition and the next steps
Oliwier remains in hospital under medical care. His condition is stable, although his injuries were serious. The family came from the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.
The investigation is ongoing. The prosecution has secured the car. Newer Volkswagen Golf models have an event data recorder (EDR), which may provide additional information about speed and manoeuvres just before the crash.
Residents near Solna Street have for years reported speeding problems in this area. After the tragedy, city authorities announced a review of traffic organisation.
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