Accident in Warsaw: Bus Had Been Constantly Repaired

A Warsaw city bus, identified as vehicle 7717 on line 186, experienced a critical malfunction that led to a severe accident on a recent Sunday. The bus first collided with a tram, then struck several cars, and ultimately crashed into an underpass, injuring six people, two of whom required hospitalization. The incident has raised serious questions about the bus's maintenance history.

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The bus line 186, which last Sunday in Ochota, Warsaw, collided with a tram, rammed cars, and finally entered the underpass, had been repaired for several months before the accident.

According to reports, the Solaris Urbino 18 bus had been experiencing technical problems for months and was undergoing repairs by two separate service teams. One team was from an authorized Solaris company near Warsaw, while the other consisted of mechanics from the Płochocińska street depot. Sources indicate that the engine and gearbox were serviced by an external firm, with final assembly done at the depot. Following this, the bus reportedly developed electronic issues, excessive oil consumption, and coolant leaks, accompanied by an "engine fault" warning light.

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According to our information, this was only the second such serious repair of this series of vehicles in this facility.

Concerns have been raised about the quality and coordination of the repairs. Drivers familiar with the vehicle noted that the bus had been out of service for an extended period. Some speculate that improper handling of electronic control units during servicing, possibly due to inadequate technical resources at the new depot or insufficient sealing after opening components, could have led to water ingress, especially given that it rained at the time. The complexity of the repairs may have exceeded the capabilities of the depot's mechanics.

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As our sources tell us, the mechanics at the depot assembled everything, and after that, the bus began to have problems with electronics, excessive oil consumption, and coolant usage.

While the investigation into the exact cause of the malfunction is ongoing, with no indication of remote control interference, the driver's actions are being praised. He is considered a hero for his efforts to control the runaway bus when standard braking methods failed. The accident underscores the critical importance of rigorous maintenance and the potential consequences of technical failures in public transportation.

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We suspect that if the service touched the controller, it could have been accidentally unsealed, or if they opened it, they did not seal it properly during the repair, and water could have gotten into it.