Driver veers onto sidewalk in Bardo, killing 12-year-old boy and 45-year-old man
A 52-year-old motorist drove his Toyota onto a crowded sidewalk in central Bardo on Wednesday, fatally striking a 12-year-old boy and a 45-year-old man before colliding with another car.
The crash
Shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, a silver Toyota suddenly veered off ul. Główna, the main road through Bardo. According to initial police reports, the car was traveling at high speed, smashed through protective posts, and hurtled onto the sidewalk. Two pedestrians—a 12‑year‑old boy and a 45‑year‑old man—were walking there; the vehicle struck them and pinned them against a masonry wall. After the impact, the car rebounded into the roadway and collided head‑on with another Toyota coming from the opposite direction, driven by a 41‑year‑old from Kłodzko County.
Victims and rescue
Emergency services were dispatched immediately. An LPR rescue helicopter landed at the scene. Despite rapid medical intervention, both pedestrians died of their injuries. The younger was a minor; Radio Wrocław, citing unofficial sources, reported that the two were father and son, but police have not confirmed that detail, publicly listing them only as a 12‑year‑old boy and a 45‑year‑old man. The driver of the second car was taken to hospital; he was found to be sober. The 52‑year‑old driver was also sober and was hospitalized with unspecified injuries.
The driver was sober and taken to hospital. We are investigating why he drove onto the sidewalk.
Investigation
Police from the Ząbkowice Śląskie district headquarters are leading the inquiry. Officers have cordoned off ul. Główna, secured forensic traces, and are interviewing witnesses. The cause of the deviation remains undetermined. “We are not ruling out any version at this stage,” a police spokesperson said. Investigators note that the road layout in that part of town does not allow high speeds, raising further questions about the events leading up to the crash.
Road closure
The stretch of ul. Główna in Bardo is completely closed to traffic. Police are directing drivers to alternative routes and asking the public to follow instructions from officers on site.
