"It is with deep regret that we inform you that, due to an unexpected malfunction, an unfortunate event occurred during the transportation of the deceased," the company said in a statement on Saturday.
It cited a "technical failure of the electric tailgate lock" as the cause.
The company emphasized that the incident does not reflect the usual high standards of their service and expressed deep remorse to the affected families and the public.
The incident took place on Friday evening in Stalowa Wola, southeastern Poland, when a corpse fell out of a hearse onto a busy street. The body, which belonged to a woman, tumbled from the hearse while in transport.
The event was first reported by witnesses, including a man who saw a sheet from the hearse suddenly land on his car window. As the sheet slid away, he was shocked to discover a body lying on the street. Initially fearing he had struck the person, the driver soon realized the hearse had lost its passenger.
Photographs shared by local media showed the body lying on a pedestrian crossing.
Local police spokesperson Ewelina Wrona confirmed that officers were not immediately notified but responded after reports surfaced in the media. By the time police arrived at the scene, both the body and the hearse were gone. However, witnesses provided details that corroborated the event.
Authorities are now conducting an investigation determining whether any laws were violated including those dealing with the desecration of a corpse. If breached, this could carry a penalty of up to two years in prison.
The funeral home, for its part, assured that it will conduct thorough inspections of all its vehicles to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
(mo)
Source: PAP, AP