Two crashes on special stages halt Rajd Polski; four crew members hospitalised

Two crashes halt special stages at 82nd Rajd Polski

Two separate accidents within minutes of each other on Saturday morning brought the second and third special stages of the 82nd Rajd Polski to a halt. The crashes occurred on OS 2 Jastrzębie-Zdrój and OS 3 Ochaby, both in the Silesian Voivodeship. Four crew members, two drivers and two co-drivers, were taken to hospitals, though organisers stressed that no lives were in danger. The rally, a round of the European Rally Championship, resumed on an alternative route.

What happened on the stages

Around 10 a.m., car number 43 (Dziennik Zachodni) or 44 (TVN24), crew Neulinger and Heigl, crashed at the start of OS 2 Jastrzębie-Zdrój. The driver was extracted from the wreck after about 30 minutes; his condition remained unclear in initial reports. A separate accident shortly afterwards involved car number 9, driven by Dominik Stříteský with co-driver Ondřej Krajča, on OS 3 Ochaby. Video and photographs from the scene showed emergency medical teams attending both sites. RMF FM’s reporter said the first car went off the road on a bend and disappeared from view, and that a rescue helicopter landed at the Ochaby stage.

All I heard was that they’re cutting the car, but I don’t know more. And that the car was burning.

Emergency response and condition of the crews

Rally services reacted “instantly,” said event spokesman Andrzej Borowski. All four injured were taken to hospital. Police spokesperson Andżelina Rochowiak of the Katowice regional command confirmed to tvn24.pl that two drivers and two co-drivers had been hospitalised. Borowski emphasised that their lives are not threatened.

The rally services reacted instantly. They were taken from the accident site; there is no threat to life. The rally started and is going on.

Rally status after the accidents

Both OS 2 and OS 3 were interrupted following the crashes. The organiser posted on social media that the remaining crews were diverted via an alternative route to OS 4 Gmina Jasienica. The 82nd Rajd Polski continued with the next stage.