A tragic bus accident in the Świętokrzyskie region claimed the lives of a coach and the driver, leaving 17 junior football players injured. The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon when the bus, carrying the Alit Ożarów junior team, veered off the road and crashed into a tree after the 65-year-old driver lost consciousness while driving.
According to accounts from the players, their 43-year-old coach heroically attempted to take control of the vehicle after noticing the driver’s condition. Though his efforts to stop the bus were unsuccessful, players believe his actions prevented more casualties. “If it weren’t for the coach, there could have been more victims,” they said.
A tragic accident occurred on Saturday on National Road 74 from Kielce to Opatów. A bus carrying Alit Ożarów players crashed into a tree.
— Poland-24.com (@poland24com) September 21, 2024
The driver died at the scene. Coach Damian Jędrzejewski died after being transported to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/M5eihRHLQm
Immediate Response
Emergency services, including four medical helicopters, were dispatched to the scene. Despite the efforts of paramedics, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. All 17 injured players, aged 16 to 18, were taken to hospitals in Kielce, Opatów, and Staszów. While some require extended hospital care, none of their injuries are considered life-threatening.
Tragically, after several hours in the hospital, the coach also succumbed to his injuries, further intensifying the sorrow surrounding the accident.
Ongoing Investigation
Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the accident, and several witnesses have already been interviewed.
