Two dead, two injured after car hits lamp post at high speed in Sosnowiec

A passenger car was torn apart when it struck a roadside lamp post in the southern Polish city of Sosnowiec. The accident happened around midnight on the night of 17–18 June 2026.

What happened

All four occupants were travelling along 3 Maja Street when the driver, reportedly travelling at excessive speed, lost control. The vehicle left the road and hit the lighting pole with immense force.

Initial findings by officers at the scene indicate that around midnight the driver of the car, due to speed not matching conditions, lost control and struck a lighting pole.

The impact was so violent that the car was split in two, with one half left against the pole and the other landing nearby. Witness accounts described the vehicle as completely destroyed.

Casualties

The driver and one passenger died at the scene. Emergency services declared them deceased upon arrival.

On arrival rescuers found four victims. After medical triage two were classified as black – they died at the scene from their injuries. The other two were classified as red and required immediate transport to hospitals.

Two surviving passengers were rushed to hospital. One remained in a serious condition while the other sustained a leg injury.

Emergency response

Multiple units responded: fire brigade, ambulance crews and police. Their immediate tasks included securing the area, extracting the injured from the wreckage and providing first aid. Police technicians spent several hours under the supervision of a prosecutor collecting evidence that will be used to reconstruct the exact sequence of events.

Cause and reaction

The Silesian Police said speed was the primary factor. They issued a statement calling the crash a “tragic reminder of the severe consequences road incidents can bring” and appealed for caution. A separate black alert was declared for traffic in the area. The investigation continues.