Wreckage of car Prince Philip smashed into shows he was split second from ploughing into baby
The front of Ellie Townsend's Kia Carens was crushed by the 97-year-old Duke’s Land Rover when he pulled out of a junction
THE wreck of the family car Prince Philip smashed into shows how he was a split second from tragedy.
The front of the Kia Carens was crushed by the 97-year-old Duke’s Land Rover when he pulled out of a junction.
Photos show how the royal’s car came within a whisker of hitting the hatchback’s left side — where a baby was sitting in the rear seat.
Driver Ellie Townsend, 28, and her nine-month-old son walked from the wreck with pal Emma Fairweather, 46, who broke her wrist.
The Prince, who was alone, had very minor injuries.
Forensic crash investigator Graham Oakley said: “A split second later and the Prince’s car would have gone straight into their side.
“The Kia would have taken a very heavy impact, likely enough to cause serious injury or death. It doesn’t bear thinking about.
“I’m surprised everyone has walked out of this collision, it’s re- markable. They should all count themselves very lucky.”
Retired cop Graham added: “It’s clear the Kia had a substantial, terrific whack as it collided with the Prince’s Land Rover.
“You can see damage spread fairly evenly across the entire front of the vehicle with the radiator pushed back onto the engine block.
“This suggests it may have hit more or less at right-angles.
“Both driver and passenger air bags have deployed, which is what prevented serious facial and upper-body injuries.
“Thankfully the interior appears undamaged — which means the baby in the back would have been well protected.”
Sources have said police are focusing on driver error — rather than any mechanical faults with the vehicles involved.
The crash happened on the A149 near Sandringham, Norfolk, at 3pm on Thursday January 17.
The following day, The Sun told how Prince Philip yelled “My legs!” as he was pulled from the wreckage of his overturned Land Rover.
Ellie’s blue 2006 Kia is now officially a write-off. The accident came as she and her husband were saving to buy a house.
The car was taken to mechanics who said it was beyond saving. It has been transferred to a secret location near Sandringham, where it will be sold for parts.
A catalogue at the scrapyard selling it describes primary damage as being at the “front end” — but adds there is secondary damage across the whole car. Its current trade value is marked at £929.
A source said: “I heard there was a strict policy put in place at the rescue centre where the Kia was kept. They monitored who was allowed on the yard.
“It was all down to the high- profile nature of the crash.”
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Injured Emma told how she was touched to receive an apologetic note from the Prince this week, signed by hand “Philip”.
He told Emma he was “deeply sorry” and wished her a “speedy recovery”.
Norfolk Police said there were no updates on the investigation.
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