Drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka of the Polish extreme metal band DECAPITATED passed away in a Russian hospital from injuries sustained in a recent road collision. He was 23 years old.
Vitek and DECAPITATED singer Covan (real name: Adrian Kowanek) were hurt in an accident earlier in the week involving DECAPITATED's tour bus and a truck carrying wood in Gomel, on the Russia/Belarus border. Both musicians reportedly sustained serious head injuries in the collision, which is believed to have been the fault of the band's driver (although this has not yet been officially confirmed).
According to the Polish Internet portal Onet.pl, Vitek underwent trepanation, a form of surgery in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the skull, and was due to be transported to a hospital in Krakow, Poland for further treatment.
Covan's family released a statement yesterday (Thursday, November 1) that the vocalist's condition had improved. At the time, the vocalist was still said to be at a hospital in Novozybkov, Russia, where he and Vitek were taken following the accident.
Check out photos of DECAPITATED taken on their tour of Russia (courtesy of Darkside):
Moscow (October 27, 2007)
St. Petersburg (October 21, 2007)
Polish death metallers DECAPITATED have issued a statement regarding the death of their drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka who passed away today (November 2nd) in a Russian hospital from injuries sustained in a recent road collision. It reads as follows:
"Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka – our brother and dearest friend succumbed to head injuries sustained after a bad van accident while on tour in Russia. He was 23.
One of the youngest and most promising drummers in the genre, together with Decapitated he has consistently released albums both crushing and invigorating in their musicianship. Extremely talented – he has been involved in other side projects: DIES IRAE, PANZER X. He will be missed and can not be replaced.
The metal scene will be much sorrier with his passing…"
On October 29th 2007, whilst travelling to a show in Gomel, Belarus, the band were involved in an automobile accident. Their tour bus collided with a truck carrying wood, injuring Vitek and Covan seriously. They were put in intensive care at a local hospital in Novozybkov, Russia. The bus was said to be 'beyond repair' following the crash, an indication of the seriousness of the collision. On November 1, 2007, the family of Covan released a statement that said that Covan's condition was improving, but Vitek's condition was not. The following day, the Polish Internet Portal website Onet.pl released a statement that said Vitek underwent trepanation to try and relieve some of the pressure exerted on his brain. On November 2, 2007, Witold ``Vitek`` Kieltyka was declared dead due to injuries sustained from the bus accident.
