Prince Philip's car crash sparks questions about why the 97-year-old was driving

CBS ^ | Jan 2019

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip is said to be doing fine after his SUV flipped in a car crash Thursday near the queen's country estate in eastern England. The 97-year-old was behind the wheel during the collision...

The force of impact shattered the windshield and jolted the prince, who was strapped into the driver's seat. He walked away without serious injuries but witnesses said he was lucky to escape alive.

One witness said Philip was lightly bleeding and appeared "very shocked" but was pulled from the wreck with the help of bystander Roy Warne. "I helped him move his legs which were a little trapped and a bit crushed, then I saw his face and I realized who it was," Warne said.

Two women in a second vehicle were hospitalized with minor injuries and a nine-month-old baby was found uninjured in their backseat. Police are investigating what caused the crash with many people surprised to hear Philip was behind the wheel at his age.

"Prince Philip, as we know, is a very determined headstrong individual who has wanted to retain a sense of individual freedoms right up to the age of 97 and you can understand that," said Royal correspondent Roya Nikka. "This is also a man who served in the navy, who served in the Second World War, a man who has seen action, who has been active his whole life."

But over the years he's had to dial it back, giving up flying planes and playing polo. In 2017, he retired from his royal duties.

The prince is said to be home resting with the queen by his side. While he escaped uninjured, Buckingham Palace isn't taking this lightly. Some say it's unlikely he will be allowed to drive on public roads again.

[ClearBlueSky]

Give up their independence??? I'm sorry, age TAKES your independence. What they don't want to give up is their delusion that they are as capable as they were. If you need a walker to GET to your car, you have no business driving,IMO. If you're confused, if you need help at home doing everyday things- you are NOT 'independent'. I've seen too many infirm people get out of(usually huge) cars who can barely walk. You hear of 'stepping on gas instead of brake' all the time-usually senior citizens.
Philip, like too many other elderly, care more about their own 'feelings' instead of the public they endanger; and family members who allow them to endanger themselves and others because of PRIDE( or their own unwillingness to help their loved one) should be held accountable for any damage they do, IMO.

[Georgia Girl 2]

My Mom is 96 and about 6 mos ago after she sustained a spinal stress fracture we started discouraging her from driving. The car sits in the carport but we live across the street and she knows we watch. We now take her where she needs to go. She now uses the car as a threat of we don't move fast enough to take her somewhere. 😡

[Vermont Lt]

It was hard enough getting my mother in law off the road at 94. I cannot imagine getting a freakin’ Prince of England off the road.

I am glad everyone is alright. But damn.

[bgill]

He should have had a chauffeur and security. He should have been wearing sun glasses or the new no glare glasses. He should have obeyed the yield sign. Looking east and west at oncoming traffic is not looking west into the sun. No matter how the Brits spin it, he’s at fault.

[mewzilla]

The Royals needed to step up a long time ago on this.

And when the bloody royals didn't, the authorities should have.

[rktman]

An obvious example of a family that doesn’t want to deal with the issue is napa nan’s family. She has lost it and seems everybody is afraid to confront her. Well, except PDJT. :-)

[fella]

" Perhaps there are still certain safe areas of England today, in spite of the ongoing Muslim immigration."

They are called "Go Zones" and are dwindling in numbers and size rapidly.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

At 2:45 pm the sun is still high in the sky. It’s not low enough to shine in a driver’s eye at that time of day. From the picture, it looks more like he pulled out into oncoming traffic.

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At 2:45 pm the sun is low in the sky in the UK.

[Mears]

“An obvious example of a family that doesn’t want to deal with the issue is napa nan’s family”

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Even if the family DID want her to quit she would just ignore them.

It’s all about POWER.

.

.

[Hatteras]

My favorite Brit. Did I tell you about the time, in my early 20s when I and a friend accidently stormed a poolside meeting he was attending on an old girlfriend's family estate here in the U.S.? . Long story, but he waved to me. :-)

Lovely chap! But yea, I'm thinking... take his keys.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

Sunset 4:19 pm at Sandringham yesterday

[fella]

"What a lie. At 2:45 pm the sun is still high in the sky. It's not low enough to shine in a driver's eye at that time of day."

Take a look at a globe. England is as far north as Nona Scotia. Meaning the sun is much lower in the sky at this time of year.

Blinded by sun, doesn't see on coming traffic, pulls out, bang.

[GOYAKLA]

https://dailyuv.com/profile/2246-the-floyd-van-alstyne-story/918414

[GOYAKLA]

https://dailyuv.com/profile/2246-the-floyd-van-alstyne-story/918414

[Chauncey Gardiner]

“Hold my brandy and watch this...”

[NRx]

I’ve always thought that being a prince, who is not expected to inherit the big chair, has got to be one of the best jobs in the world. Right up there with Vice President of the United States.

[gov_bean_ counter]

No doubt.

[hanamizu]

What a lie. At 2:45 pm the sun is still high in the sky.

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Actually, I just checked on an astronomy program. The sun is setting at right about that time. Britain is much farther north than most think—about the same latitude as Labrador.

[Joe Boucher]

trying to flee Liz?

[IronJack]

He was probably driving on the wrong side of the road. The Brits have a tendency to do that, you know.