Lady Di's death: whose fault was it?
The British princess and her boyfriend died on August 31, 1997 in a car accident. None of the occupants of the Mercedes S 280 had their seat belts fastened. Today, doubts remain.
Princess Diana holds a special place in the hearts of the British. Because of her sympathy, her charitable actions and also because of her position in front of the crown, she was considered "The people's princess", a condition that she exceeded all limits after her death.
Twenty-two years have passed since that fatal day, and the echoes of a fact that does not escape the mystery and conspiracy speculations are still heard since there are still many questions that were not answered: what happened that night of August 31, 1997 in the that the ex-wife of Prince Charles of Wales lost her life in Paris? The car in which she was traveling, was it in good condition?
Diana Spencer and her boyfriend, Egyptian businessman Dodi Al Fayed, were detected by photojournalists leaving the Ritz hotel in the French capital where they had gone for dinner. Pursued by the paparazzi, the couple, the driver and another person left terrified and got into the Mercedes Benz S 280 rented from the hotel.
In the middle of the tunnel of the Bridge of the Soul, and still without knowing why, the luxurious limousine crashed against a pillar. Al Fayed died instantly; Diana, hours later. The driver, who according to experts was driving at a speed that could exceed 150 km / h, had ingested a cocktail of alcohol and drugs. Only the bodyguard, who was riding in the passenger seat, saved his life.
One of the points that is most often referred to when explaining Diana's death is that, according to the subsequent investigation, none of the occupants wore a seatbelt. Despite the vehicle's safety measures, the use of this implement is essential.
What was the Mercedes S 280 like? The S series (also known as W 140) represents (together with its Maybach branded derivatives) the highest of the Stuttgart house. That model uses a 193 hp 2.8 in-line six-cylinder engine to move about 1,800 kilos.
It had ABS, a primitive power distribution system to prevent slipping, double airbags, and special materials to contain impacts. All state-of-the-art devices for the late 90s.
However, there is a parallel story with that black Mercedes that Spencer and Fayed used. It was acquired by a businessman in 1994, but soon after it was stolen and it was found damaged in Paris. After being completely fixed, it was bought by the Etoile Limousine company, a luxury car firm that operated, among other centers, with the Ritz hotel.
According to the company director, the car had been used by a high-ranking Mercedes-Benz de France official, but he also acknowledged that by increasing speed, he was failing. The same CEO stated that the vehicle was inspected by the terminal, which assured that it had no deficit.
Almost like a premonition, four months before the fatal accident at Puente del Alma, the luxurious sedan suffered another accident: it was stolen and abandoned on a highway. Before transferring the mother of the Hereditary Princes from England, it was repaired and returned to its owners.
After more than twenty years, it is still not entirely clear what happened that night. The only certainty is that three of the four occupants died and none were wearing seat belts. The bodyguard who saved his life did it by a miracle, but he had to face dozens of surgeries.
One theory says that Lady Di and her partner escaped from journalists, but the doubt remains as the conspiratorial versions of a persecution by the intelligence services never expired. It is clear that, although the chosen car is ultra technological and with the most advanced safety implements, the first two fundamental measures to circulate are, use the seat belt and respect the maximum speeds.
