Gdańsk. There is a court decision regarding the arrest of a truck driver after a tragic accident near Gdańsk

Marcin Kurzępa, prosecutor of the District Prosecutor's Office in Pruszcz Gdański, announced the charge against the perpetrator – 37-year-old Mateusz M. today around 2:30 p.m. He also said that the driver did not admit to committing the crime and refused to provide explanations. The prosecutor's office requested temporary arrest. On Sunday afternoon, the court decided that the man would be under police supervision and must report to the appropriate police station seven times a week.

– There is a court decision. Police supervision. The court obliged the suspect to appear 7 times a week at the appropriate police unit, said Mariusz Duszyński, spokesman for the District Prosecutor's Office in Gdańsk.

When asked by journalists whether the perpetrator explained the accident in any way, the prosecutor replied. – He referred to certain things, but I will not talk about them at this stage of the proceedings – he replied.

The 37-year-old suspect was brought to the prosecutor's office on Sunday. He was asked by journalists if he remembered anything from the accident, but he did not answer. His hands were cuffed and he had a sweatshirt on. Two policemen took him to the prosecutor's office.

According to prosecutor Mariusz Duszyński from the District Prosecutor's Office in Gdańsk, the investigation into the accident was initiated under Article 173, paragraph 1 and 3 of the Penal Code, which concerns causing a disaster in land traffic threatening the life and health of many people and property on a large scale, resulting in death Four people were killed and 15 were injured.

Four people died in the collision of 21 cars, including three trucks – including two boys, aged 7 and 10. Identification of the two remaining victims is ongoing. Autopsies are scheduled for Monday.

The fatalities of the crash were in two cars that were rammed by a truck and caught fire as a result of the collision.

15 people were transported to hospitals, five people are still hospitalized, the condition of two is considered serious.

The truck driver who caused the accident was sober and had no trace of psychoactive substances in his body. According to the prosecutor's office, he was driving at a speed of 89 km/h in a place where the speed limit is 80 km/h. This is what the tachograph showed. He didn't talk on the phone while driving.

– The vehicle lost speed as a result of hitting the car in front of it and the barrier, which is why the braking time was so long – said prosecutor Mariusz Duszyński. He added that the braking took 10 seconds. – This means that the vehicle lost speed not as a result of braking, but as a result of hitting the cars in front of it and the energy-absorbing barrier, which is why the braking time was so long – he added.

An expert will be appointed in the case to assess the technical condition of the vehicles and reconstruct the accident – this is necessary to check whether, and if so, what road safety rules the truck driver violated.

The expert will also assess the road situation. Renovations are underway at the accident site and speed limit signs are in place.

Road conditions at the time of the accident were good, the road was dry and visibility was good. – These were circumstances that allowed for maneuvers to be undertaken earlier – said the prosecutor.

Attorney Marek Wasilewski, on behalf of the 37-year-old perpetrator of the accident, expressed his “sincerest condolences” to the families of the victims in front of the TVN24 camera. – As for explanations, I am bound by attorney-client privilege and cannot disclose it – he added.

– Ladies and gentlemen, a terrible tragedy has happened. He is in shock, none of us, when leaving home or getting behind the wheel, thinks that we will be involved in an accident, let alone that we will have anything to do with it. The authorities are working, the proceedings are at an initial stage, let's wait for the investigators' findings – added lawyer Maciej Fiałkowski.

The tragic accident occurred on Friday at 11:15 p.m. on a section of the S7 road under renovation. 21 vehicles collided there, several of them caught fire. Four people were killed and 15 injured. The victims include children. It was initially determined that the 37-year-old driver of the truck hit the rear of the vehicles in front. He was detained.

Read also: A 21-car pileup near Gdańsk. Four people were killed and several dozen injured. Children among the injured