Two people died in a bus accident and a dozen were injured. A youth football team was returning to Ożarów, and one of the fatalities was its coach. As the club's president says, the death of Damian Jędrzejewski is a great blow to everyone who knew him. The man most likely tried to protect his players from the accident until the last moment.
The accident occurred on Saturday in Lechów near Opatów on national road 74. The bus was carrying a youth football team. The driver of the vehicle died at the scene, the 43-year-old coach died in hospital.
According to Grzegorz Witek, president of the Alit Ożarów club, coach Damian Jędrzejewski was exceptionally liked by his players and co-workers. The entire environment of the Ożarów club is devastated. The man left behind a wife and children.
– It's a small group, Damian was friends with each of us. He was a friend and the life of the party, a social activist – says Witek. As he said, the coach most likely tried to grab the steering wheel at a critical moment to avoid an accident.
Bus accident with football players
Aspirant Małgorzata Perkowska-Kiepas, press officer of the Kielce Municipal Police Headquarters, said on Saturday that initial findings indicate that the bus carrying the football team from Ożarów, for reasons currently unexplained, veered off its lane and hit a tree.
– There were 19 people in total in the vehicle, including players aged 16 to 18, a football coach and a driver – she said. An emergency medical service helicopter landed at the scene.
Accident involving a bus carrying a football team in Lechów (Świętokrzyskie)On the Road to the Świętokrzyskie Province
It is not known whether they will play again
The young footballers were taken to hospitals. Some of them left the hospitals the same day, some had more serious injuries.
Bus accident with teenage footballers23.09 | Two people died in a bus accident and several were injured. The car was carrying a youth football team, and one of the fatalities was its coach. As the club's president says, Damian Jędrzejewski's death is a huge blow to everyone who knew him. The man most likely tried to protect his players from an accident until the very last moment. TVN24
– The boys are devastated. These physical injuries are becoming secondary. They have some fractures, abrasions, several are in braces – describes the president. After talking to the parents, he draws attention to the possible need to cooperate with officials and provide psychological help for young people who have experienced trauma.
Due to the injuries sustained by the teenagers and the experience they had, Grzegorz Witek decided to suspend the club from further competitions. Local football clubs have contacted Alit Ożarów, offering help.
Main image source: TVN24