On the tragic night of August 31, 1997, the world was shaken by the news of Princess Diana’s untimely death in a horrific car crash in Paris. She was fleeing from relentless paparazzi who were chasing her car through the city streets. The vehicle, driven at high speed by Henri Paul, the Ritz Paris Hotel’s Deputy Head of Security, careened out of control and crashed. Subsequent findings revealed that Paul’s blood alcohol level was almost four times the legal limit, contributing significantly to the tragedy.
Also in the vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz S 280 Saloon, were Diana’s partner Dodi Fayed and bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones.
The car was driven into the Pont de l’Alma tunnel while being pursued and crashed, with Paul and Fayed being pronounced dead at the scene.Diana was pronounced dead later on in hospital, while Rees-Jones survived the crash despite sustaining multiple serious injuries.