33-year-old Ukrainian driver killed in head-on crash with truck on Poland's DK19, road blocked for hours
A Volkswagen passenger car crossed into the opposite lane and collided with a Scania truck early Saturday on national road 19 in Łukówiec, eastern Poland, killing the car's driver and blocking the route between Kock and Lubartów.
The collision
A fatal two-vehicle crash occurred on Saturday morning, 25 July 2026, on national road 19 in the village of Łukówiec, within the Firlej municipality of Lubartów county. According to police, around 6:00 am a Volkswagen passenger car travelling on DK19 crossed into the oncoming lane and struck a Scania truck head-on. The driver of the Volkswagen, identified only as a 33-year-old Ukrainian national, died at the scene from his injuries.
From preliminary findings, the driver of the Volkswagen, for unknown reasons, veered into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with the truck. As a result of his injuries, the 33-year-old Ukrainian citizen driving the passenger car died at the scene.
Those involved
While the car driver was killed instantly, the truck driver survived the impact. Chief Brigadier Sylwester Wójcik of the provincial fire service command in Lublin told the Polish Press Agency that the truck driver was placed under medical care at the scene. No further details of that driver's condition were released. Authorities did not report any other injuries or vehicles involved.
Road closure and detours
In the immediate aftermath, the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) announced that DK19 was fully blocked in both directions between the towns of Kock and Lubartów. Police officers secured the access points and directed all traffic onto local detour routes while emergency crews worked. GDDKiA initially estimated that the closure could last until approximately 10:00 am, warning of delays of several hours.
- Volkswagen veers into oncoming lane on DK19 in Łukówiec, colliding head-on with a Scania truck.
- Emergency services arrive; car driver pronounced dead; truck driver taken into medical care.
- Full closure of DK19 between Kock and Lubartów enforced; local detours activated.
- GDDKiA estimates the road will remain blocked until approximately 10:00 am.
## Investigation Police investigators worked at the scene under the supervision of a public prosecutor. The exact cause of the lane departure remains unclear. Officer Bajon stated that the force is assembling evidence and questioning witnesses to determine why the car drifted across the centre line.
We are establishing the detailed circumstances and causes of this tragic incident.
