Diana inquest continues

LONDON – A motorcyclist swerved to avoid the wreckage of the car carrying Princess Diana moments after the fatal crash 10 years ago, according to a witness statement read to a coroner’s inquest jury yesterday.

Grigori Rassinier, who said he was travelling through the Pont d’Alma tunnel in the opposite direction, said the lone motorcyclist quickly left the scene. The coroner’s jury must decide how Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed died in the crash on August 31 1997.Their French driver, Henri Paul, also died.Several witnesses have recalled seeing motorcycles pursuing the couple’s car, though accounts have differed on how many bikes gave chase.Other witnesses did not recall seeing any motorcycles.Some paparazzi photographers were seen using motorcycles on the night, and it is believed the Paul may have been trying to outrace them on a journey from the Ritz Hotel to Fayed’s apartment.Rassinier said he saw the motorcycle emerge from smoke that filled the tunnel after the Mercedes crashed into a concrete pillar in the tunnel.The motorcycle “swerved as if it were avoiding the crashed car,” his statement said.”This motorcycle left very quickly after having executed the swerve….It seems improbable that the motorcycle stopped before setting off again.”Nampa-APThe coroner’s jury must decide how Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed died in the crash on August 31 1997.Their French driver, Henri Paul, also died.Several witnesses have recalled seeing motorcycles pursuing the couple’s car, though accounts have differed on how many bikes gave chase.Other witnesses did not recall seeing any motorcycles.Some paparazzi photographers were seen using motorcycles on the night, and it is believed the Paul may have been trying to outrace them on a journey from the Ritz Hotel to Fayed’s apartment.Rassinier said he saw the motorcycle emerge from smoke that filled the tunnel after the Mercedes crashed into a concrete pillar in the tunnel.The motorcycle “swerved as if it were avoiding the crashed car,” his statement said.”This motorcycle left very quickly after having executed the swerve….It seems improbable that the motorcycle stopped before setting off again.”Nampa-AP