S61 expressway: Tractor towing combine harvester by mistake

On the morning of August 17, 2026, a tractor towing a combine harvester via a flexible rope caused a dangerous situation on the S61 expressway near Ełk, Poland. The two drivers entered the expressway by mistake after missing their intended exit and were unable to exit the route immediately.

The incident posed a significant risk to traffic, as the heavy agricultural machinery was moving at very low speeds on a road where vehicles typically travel up to 120 km/h. The combine harvester also lacked the required markings for a towed vehicle.

Officers from the Ełk District Police, supported by the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA), escorted the vehicles safely to the nearest exit. The 23-year-old tractor driver was fined 250 PLN for entering the expressway, and the 28-year-old combine operator was fined 150 PLN for improper marking of the towed vehicle. Police issued an appeal advising drivers not to attempt U-turns or reversing maneuvers on expressways if they enter by mistake, as such actions create extreme danger.