Q: In the crash that killed Princess Diana on Aug. 31, 1997, it was reported that she said, “My God, what just happened?” Other reports say she was unconscious following the crash. Which is correct?
—Mia Smith, Decatur
A: There are conflicting reports to what Diana, the Princess of Wales, said before she died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997.
Dr. Frederic Mailliez, who stopped to help after the accident, said two months after her death that Diana kept saying how much she hurt.
“If there were other words from the Princess,” he told The New York Times, “I cannot remember them and would not repeat them if I could; there is a duty between doctor and patient.”
The official report from the Metropolitan Police’s inquiry into the accident stated that paramedic Xavier Gourmelon was quoted as saying Diana said: “My God,” and later, “My God, what’s happened?”
Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones said Diana said: “Dodi, Dodi,” in reference to her friend Dodi Fayed, who also was killed.
A French newspaper reported her last words were: ”Oh my God, leave me alone, leave me alone!” but Mailliez told The Times that paparazzi photographers were “there but not intrusive or troublesome.”
Q: How many Level 1 trauma centers do we have in Georgia? I often hear of north Georgia accident victims being transported to Erlanger in Chattanooga.
—Scott MacLean, Forest Park
A: There are five Level 1 trauma centers in Georgia. They are:
- Atlanta Medical Center
- Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta)
- Medical Center, Navicent Health (Macon)
- Georgia Regents Medical Center (Augusta)
- Memorial Health University Medical Center (Savannah)
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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