A funeral home in Poland has issued an unusual apology on Saturday after a corpse that it was transporting fell out of a hearse and into traffic. Polish media reported that a man was driving down a street Friday in Stalowa Wola, a city in south-eastern Poland, when he first saw a sheet on his car window. When the sheet slid down, he saw a body lying on the road. For a moment the driver feared that he had hit the person.

Local media published an image of the corpse lying on a white-striped pedestrian crossing, where it had tumbled out of the hearse. The company transporting the body, Hades Funeral Services, issued a statement on Saturday taking responsibility for the incident and blaming a technical failure of the hearse.

“It is with deep regret that we inform you that as a result of an unexpected technical failure of the electric tailgate lock in the hearse, during the transport of the body of the deceased, an unfortunate event occurred which does not reflect the high standards of our company, our deep empathy towards the families of the deceased, and the respect we always show to the deceased,” the company wrote in a statement posted on its website.

It apologised to “all those who were disappointed and upset by this event”.

The Hearse Malfunction

Hades Funeral Services, the company transporting the body in Stalowa Wola, southeastern Poland, blamed the incident on “an unexpected technical failure” of the vehicle’s lock. The company admitted its mistake and took full responsibility for what happened.

In their statement, they acknowledged that the incident was deeply moving for their team and reassured the family of the deceased that they were offering all possible support. They stated that their most important goal is to help families through the most difficult times in their lives.

Impact on the Driver

The driver who witnessed the incident was left fearing he had hit someone after he saw a body in the road and a sheet on his car window. This experience must have been traumatic for him, highlighting the unexpected and disturbing nature of the event.

Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

The incident has sparked a conversation about safety protocols and the importance of meticulous maintenance in the funeral industry. Hades Funeral Services has assured the public that they have taken immediate steps to prevent similar incidents from happening again, including a full technical inspection of their vehicles and additional training for their staff.

The company’s swift response and sincere apology have been praised by some, while others have expressed concerns about the potential for future incidents. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough safety measures in all aspects of the transportation industry, even in the solemn context of funeral services. It is crucial for funeral homes to prioritize vehicle maintenance and ensure their employees are adequately trained to handle the sensitive task of transporting the deceased with the utmost respect and care.