LUCKY ESCAPE
Prince Philip car crash – was he hurt in the accident, were there any victims and who was driving?
THE Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a shocking car crash on January 17 near the Sandringham Estate, crashing into two women and a baby and rolling his own car.
We explain what happened to the 97-year-old and if he was hurt.
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What happened in the accident?
Prince Philip was pulling out of a road in his Land Rover when his 4x4 was “T-boned”.
The car flipped on the A419 at Babingley, Norfolk, at 3pm.
An eyewitness said he was pulled from the wrecked car, which had flipped over on to the driver’s door and the windscreen was smashed.
Barrister Roy Warne, 75, who was first at the scene, helped to free the “disorientated” royal from his motor.
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He heard the Duke later admit to cops he had been “dazzled by the sun”.
There was heavy police presence in the area as dramatic pictures showed the royal vehicle on its side.
A royal bodyguard was also in the car with Prince Philip.
The people in the other car – which was a Kia – were two women and a baby.
Both the prince and the driver were breathalysed and provided negative readings.
Officers sealed off the crash scene as an ambulance crew helped the injured and the cars were taken away.
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Were there any victims?
A female passenger hurt in a crash with Prince Philip has been charged with withholding details about two earlier road offences.
Emma Fairweather, 48, allegedly failed to reveal within 28 days who was driving a VW Golf.
The mum has now been charged with two counts of failing to name a driver when asked.
It is unclear what wrongdoing the Golf driver alleged committed or who the registered keeper is.
But they are the ones usually asked to name drivers in suspected offences. Philip’s Land Rover flipped after he smashed into a Kia driven by Fairweather’s friend Ellie Townsend on the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk in January.
Ms Townsend, 28, had minor cuts. Her nine-month-old son, strapped into a car seat, was unscathed.
But Fairweather said: “It’s been a traumatic and painful time. I expected more of the Royal Family.”
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Was Prince Philip hurt and who was driving?
Prince Philip was driving his Land Rover at the time of the crash.
Most royal vehicles are heavily armoured by the manufacturers ahead of delivery.
The independent royal was reportedly “shaken” after the crash and yelled "my legs" as he was pulled from the car.
Roy told The Sun: “He stood up and was unharmed but was obviously very shocked.
“He was disorientated and humbled. I believe he was very sorry about what had happened.
"The sun was very low in the sky. Considering his age he got off much better than the people in the other car.”
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Roy, who helped Philip out of his overturned Land Rover, said: “I looked down and had the Prince’s blood on my hands."
Prince Philip miraculously walked away from the crash.
The Queen was at his side at Sandringham that evening and he was being monitored by royal doctors.
The royal bodyguard escaped uninjured.
The passengers of the other car were treated in hospital but were later discharged.
Norfolk Constabulary confirmed the female Kia driver, 28, suffered cuts to her knees and her passenger, 45, broke her wrist in the crash. The nine-month-old baby was uninjured.
A Buckingham Palace statement read: "The Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a road traffic accident with another vehicle this afternoon. The Duke was not injured.”
Just 48 hours after the Norfolk crash, Prince Philip was given an official warning for driving without a seatbelt.
The Duke of Edinburgh was given "suitable words of advice" by officers after he was snapped driving a brand-new Land Rover without being strapped in.
A Norfolk Constabulary spokesman added: "This is in line with our standard response when being made aware of such images showing this type of offence."
On January 24, The Sun exclusively reported claims that Land Rovers for royals have their seatbelt alarms turned off to make it easier to drive without one.
It was claimed that both the Queen and Prince Philip's vehicles have the safety feature turned off by request.
It comes as both royals were seen without their belts on and just a week after Philip’s horror road smash.
A source said Jaguar Land Rover was instructed to disable the seatbelt alarm on vehicles supplied to the royals.
They went on: “It’s so that the driver doesn’t have the continuous warning beeps if they don’t wear a seatbelt.”
A spokesman for Jaguar Land Rover referred The Sun to Buckingham Palace, who refused to comment.
What did the authorities say after the crash?
A Norfolk Police spokesman said: "The male driver of the Land Rover was uninjured.
"The female driver of the Kia suffered cuts while the female passenger sustained an arm injury, both requiring hospital treatment.
"We can confirm both casualties from the Kia have been treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn and have since been discharged.
"The road remained open and both vehicles were recovered a short time later.
"It is force policy to breath test drivers involved in collisions. We can confirm both drivers were breath tested and provided negative readings."
Land Rovers for royals have their seatbelt alarms turned off to make it easier to drive without one, it was claimed.
Road campaigners said he was “disrespecting” the public and had to wear one — even if the alarm is turned off.
British Safety Council chairman Lawrence Waterman blasted: “It’s not as if it’s onerous or difficult — and the law requires it. Obviously these safety devices are a helpful reminder and I’m very disappointed as I do feel the royals should be setting a better example.
“Whether or not the device was working, Prince Philip should be wearing a seatbelt. He’s old enough to know what he should be doing and frankly I feel he’s showing a disrespectful attitude to the rest of us. People in a position of public influence who flout the law send the wrong message."
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LATEST ON PRINCE PHILIP
Where did the crash happen?
Prince Philip crashed near the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
It happened on the A419 at Babingley, Norfolk, which is just over a mile away from the Sandringham Estate.
It is believed the Land Rover drove out from a T-junction on Queen Elizabeth Way and collided with the Kia.
The stretch of road where Prince Philip was involved in a car crash is to have its speed limit reviewed after being the scene of five deaths in just six years.
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