Prosecutors arrest Sopot driver following weekend carnage

The unnamed 32-year old man arrives at the Sopot Prosecutors' office in Gdansk, 20.072014 to hear accusations of what prosecutors have called the intentional cause of a "land transport catastrophe", 20.07.2014 Photo: PAP/Adam Warżawa

On Monday, the man heard charges of intentionally causing what prosecutors in Sopot have called a “land transport catastrophe”, which left over 20 people injured and miraculously noone dead.

Spokesman for the Sopot prosecution, Tomasz Landowski said that during the hearing the man admitted to the accusations, but refused to give an explanation for the incident, also declining to answer investigators’ cross-examinations.

Early reports by the police claimed that the man was not driving under the influence of alcohol, and although a drugs test has been administered, the results are not expected to come back for the next few weeks.

“We will try and get the results as quickly as possible,” Landowski told journalists, Monday.

The 32-year old man has been taken into custody for three months. If found guilty, he could face ten years behind bars.

Meanwhile, Sopot authorities have announced that it is going to beef up its municipal guard presence along the beachfront, with further patrols by the police also possible.

“We will put out an extra ten officers on Friday and Saturday nights,” Sopot mayor Jacek Karnowski said on Monday, adding that heightened measures are to be put in place to stop the sale of alcohol to minors and to people already under the influence of alcohol. (jb)

Source: PAP

The scene of the crash in Sopot on Saturday night, 19.07.2014. Photo: PAP/Piotr Wittman

The Honda which ploughed into the crowd in Sopot on Satuday night, 19.07.2014 Photo: PAP/Piotr Wittman