Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Car search in Diana inquiry

John Lichfield,Paris
Tuesday 04 November 1997 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

French police plan to interview 40,000 owners of Fiat Unos in an attempt to identify a second car possibly involved in the accident which killed Diana, Princess of Wales, in Paris two months ago.

The car owners, starting with those in the Paris area, will be invited to come to a police station to account for their movements on 31 August, the night the Mercedes carrying Diana's party crashed in a tunnel beneath the Place de L'Alma in central Paris.

A streak of white paint on the left wing of the Mercedes has been identified as coming from a Fiat Uno or one or two other vehicles. Pieces of yellow plastic found near the crash scene have been identified as coming from the rear indicator of a Uno. Forensic experts have narrowed the identity of the possible second car to 40,000 Unos sold in France between 1983 and 1987.

Investigators refuse to say a second car was definitely involved in the accident. But the amount of police time and energy being invested in the search for a Uno suggests this theory is now regarded as, at the very least, extremely plausible.

Investigators believe the Mercedes, travelling at 90-100mph to escape press photographers, may have struck the Fiat a glancing blow just before entering the under-pass. It remains unclear what happened to the hypothetical Fiat after the accident. The driver, if identified, would face criminal charges for leaving the scene of a crash and failing to assist lives in danger.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in