15min has already reported how tourists traveling from the Czech Republic to Latvia, who got into an accident in Lithuania, initially voluntarily and hastily paid a 5 euro fine, but after recovering from the shock, began to understand that perhaps the driver should not be held responsible for such an incident, where a tree broken during a storm falls on a vehicle underneath and injures people.
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The Kaunas County Chief Police Commissariat does not doubt the validity of the imposed penalty, as it is guided by the view that the incident involved a moving vehicle participating in traffic.
The police emphasize difficult conditions
“The tree fell on a moving car, not a stationary one, so a traffic accident was recorded,” reads a comment from representatives of the Kaunas County VPK Communications Department received by 15min.
It is noted that the circumstances of the incident are clear, and the key circumstance that all drivers had to consider is described as follows: difficult meteorological conditions.
“According to available data, no additional investigation is underway,” stated the Kaunas County VPK.
Meanwhile, on Friday, a tourist from the Czech Republic named Oleksandra, who was in the damaged “Hyundai” car with her husband, contacted the 15min editorial office seeking an additional investigation despite the already paid 5 euro fine and the car being scrapped.
The victim mentioned that during the incident, nearby concerned people rushed to help them, so they themselves, either verbally or through recordings from dashcams installed in their cars, might be able to confirm that the “Hyundai” was not moving at the crucial moment but was stationary on a storm-stricken road in the Kėdainiai district.
What really matters to us is not the 5 euros, but justice and how we were treated after everything.
“After everything that happened, it is very difficult for us both physically and morally. What really matters to us is not the 5 euros, but justice and how we were treated after everything that happened. Could you publish information to help find the man from the truck with the crane? Maybe he has a video recording of the incident or dashcam footage. This is very important to us now because we want to prove how everything really happened,” Oleksandra repeated.
As reported, the storm that raged in the Kėdainiai district on Saturday almost ended in an even more painful accident. In the town of Akademija, a tree fell “on a moving car,” and two people were injured in the incident.
According to the Kaunas County Chief Police Commissariat, the accident occurred in the evening, around 5:15 PM, on Parko Street in the town of Akademija.
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A tree fell on the roof of a “Hyundai” car driven by a 29-year-old man while it was driving down the street.
“Hyundai” scrapped for disposal
The impact and overall effect due to the large mass were very strong – the heavy tree severely damaged the vehicle, practically crushing it.
The 15min editorial team was shown a document by the victims confirming that after this incident, the “Hyundai” is not only unfit for use but has also been scrapped for metal recycling.
The family also shared photos showing how the driver was injured: medics took him to the hospital with a neck brace.
Given statements did not convince officers
“I gave testimony and personally told the police what happened. I clearly said that we were standing still, not moving, but as I understand, the protocol stated completely different circumstances, and in the end, we were found guilty.
Why did the Lithuanian police treat foreigners this way, who were in shock after a tree fell directly on our car and we miraculously survived?” – the victim Oleksandra P. expressed surprise and raised questions while speaking with 15min.
The foreigners punished for “unsafe speed” have not recovered from this assessment of the situation because, first of all, they firmly believe that the tree fell on their stationary car.
The violation protocol accusing “failure to assess meteorological conditions” is also confusing because on a forest-surrounded road, the vehicle stopped precisely because it could not move smoothly and safely through the storm, with strong winds toppling trees and carrying everything around in the air.
Witnesses sought can contact the Kaunas County Police via the emergency phone number 112 or get in touch with the 15min editorial office at the general email address 15min@15min.lt.
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