Sebastian M., accused in a fatal September 2023 crash on the A1 motorway near Piotrków Trybunalski, will remain in temporary detention until December 24, 2025. The District Court in Piotrków Trybunalski upheld the measure previously imposed by a court in Katowice.
The court cited Article 249 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, stating that the evidence strongly suggests Sebastian M. committed the alleged act. Judge Marcin Oleśko, president of the District Court, explained that concerns about the accused escaping, hiding, obstructing proceedings, or facing a severe penalty—up to eight years in prison—necessitated the extended detention.
Prosecutor Izabela Knapik of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice confirmed the court’s agreement with the prosecution’s assessment. “The court decided that the use of this measure continues to be fully justified in the ongoing court proceedings,” Knapik stated, echoing the reasons of high punishment, fear of flight, and evasion.
Defender Katarzyna Hebda announced plans to appeal the decision within the seven-day window. “We will definitely use this procedural possibility,” Hebda said, adding that the appellate court will decide on the detention’s continuation. While not revealing detailed arguments before the trial begins, she confirmed they would seek to annul the preventive measure, proposing “non-custodial measures” if necessary to ensure proceedings are not hindered.
Temporary Detention for Sebastian M. to be Challenged
Fatal A1 Accident: Sebastian M. Remains in Custody
In September 2023, Sebastian M. was driving a BMW at excessive speed on the A1 motorway near Piotrków Trybunalski. He collided with a vehicle that was driving correctly, carrying a family of three from the Śląskie Voivodeship. The car caught fire upon impact, resulting in the immediate deaths of the parents and their 5-year-old son.
Following the accident, Sebastian M. was not detained by police and fled abroad before the prosecutor’s office could question him. An arrest warrant and an Interpol red notice were issued. He was detained in Dubai, and local authorities approved his extradition to Poland in May.
Brought to Poland from the United Arab Emirates on May 26, 2025, Sebastian M. was placed in temporary detention by a court in Piotrków Trybunalski. In July 2025, the District Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice filed an indictment with the District Court in Piotrków Trybunalski. He faces up to an eight-year prison sentence. His trial is scheduled to begin in September.
- A tragic accident on A1. New facts uncovered.
- Tragedy on the Łazienkowska route. Court decision made in the case of Łukasz Żak.
