Driver killed and four injured in bus crash on Dęblińska Street in Puławy
A 76-year-old Volkswagen Polo driver died and four women were injured after failing to yield right of way to a municipal bus in Puławy, blocking Provincial Road 801.
Collision on Dęblińska Street
A fatal traffic collision occurred before 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, 3 October 2026, on Dęblińska Street in the town of Puławy. The incident involved a Volkswagen Polo passenger car and a municipal line 15 transit bus operating along the route. According to preliminary determinations by police investigators, the driver of the Volkswagen Polo failed to yield the right of way to the oncoming transit vehicle. Emergency response teams, medical personnel, and traffic police officers deployed immediately to secure the crash area on the busy municipal road. The collision brought traffic to a complete halt across the roadway as emergency crews began assessing the scene.
Fatalities and medical evacuations
The 76-year-old male driver of the Volkswagen Polo died at the scene as a result of severe injuries sustained in the collision. First responders provided emergency on-site assistance to the remaining vehicle occupants and bus passengers before organising hospital transport. The deceased driver's wife, who was travelling in the passenger seat of the car, sustained injuries and was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment. In total, four female passengers across both vehicles required hospitalisation following the impact, including two adult women and a young girl travelling aboard the bus.
The injured child required urgent specialised care, prompting the deployment of a Polish Medical Air Rescue (Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe) helicopter that airlifted her to a hospital in Lublin. Meanwhile, the 58-year-old driver of the municipal bus suffered general contusions during the impact, with subsequent breathalyser tests confirming that he was sober.
- A Volkswagen Polo collides with municipal bus line 15 on Dęblińska Street.
- Paramedics attend to four injured women, and an air ambulance helicopter transports an injured girl to Lublin.
- Police block Provincial Road 801 between Puławy and Dęblin and set up local detours.
Police investigation and initial reports
Kamil Karbowniczek from the press team of the Lublin Voivodeship Police Headquarters confirmed the circumstances of the fatal collision and outlined the initial findings regarding traffic priority.
The driver of the car died at the scene.
Initial police reports indicated that three passengers were travelling on the bus alongside the driver, with three people transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Subsequent updates from the Lublin Voivodeship Police Headquarters clarified that six passengers were riding inside the bus in addition to the driver, bringing the total number of hospitalised victims to four women. Investigating officers remain at the scene to examine the precise trajectory of the vehicles and clarify the exact sequence of events. Technical documentation and vehicle inspections are being conducted under the supervision of local authorities.
Regional road closure and diversions
The fatal crash resulted in a complete blockage of Provincial Road 801 (Droga wojewódzka nr 801) along the section connecting Puławy and Dęblin. Police officers cordoned off the affected segment of Dęblińska Street to facilitate the air ambulance landing, forensic examination, and the removal of the damaged vehicles. To maintain local transit flow and regional connectivity, police authorities established designated detour routes leading through Aleja Miłości and Gołębska Street. Drivers travelling between Puławy and Dęblin were instructed to follow the temporary diversions while emergency operations continued. The roadway remains closed to traffic while municipal and recovery services finish clearing the damaged bus and car from the lanes.
