Duke of Edinburgh, 97, was not injured in collision on road near royal estate in Norfolk

The Duke of Edinburgh has escaped unhurt after the car he was driving was involved in a crash close to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Police were called to the scene of a collision involving 97-year-old Prince Philip on Thursday. Witnesses told the BBC the Land Rover being driven by Philip had overturned after pulling out from a driveway on the A149. He was helped out of the car by witnesses and was reportedly conscious but very shocked and shaken.

The palace would not confirm if he was alone in the vehicle at the time of the collision. The other car involved was a Kia and its female driver and passenger were treated in hospital and later discharged. Norfolk police said: “The female driver of the Kia suffered cuts while the female passenger sustained an arm injury, both requiring hospital treatment.”

A Buckingham Palace statement said: “The Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a road traffic accident with another vehicle this afternoon. The duke was not injured. The accident took place close to the Sandringham estate. Local police attended the scene.”

Roy Warne, 75, a barrister, who was one of the first on the scene, told the Sun there was a baby in the Kia with two women. Warne, who was travelling with his wife, rushed to the car. “There was smoke coming out as if it may explode. There was a baby in the back seat screaming,” he told the paper. After he and another man pulled the baby out he went to the other vehicle.

He said there was “one elderly man” inside, lying on his side with his legs in the footwell. Warne said he only realised it was Philip as he manoeuvred him out of the wreckage. He said he was able to stand up and was unharmed “but was obviously very shocked”.

Philip retired from public life in August 2017. He and the Queen have been staying at Sandringham since Christmas.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Prince Philip driving the Queen and the Obamas in 2016. Photograph: Geoff Pugh/AP

Norfolk police said officers were called to the Sandringham estate shortly before 3pm “following reports of a collision involving two cars”. Norfolk police said: “It is force policy to breath-test drivers involved in collisions. We can confirm both drivers were breath-tested and provided negative readings.”

The crash occurred near the village of Babingley. One resident, Nick Cobb, said he saw an overturned vehicle, believed to be Philip’s Land Rover, on a private road and another car “well into the hedge” on the opposite side of the road. “There was lots of debris in the road , lots of glass and lots of other cars, some police cars, some from the Sandringham estate and about six ordinary looking cars that looked as though they had stopped to help,” he told the BBC.

Police said: “The road remained open and both vehicles were recovered a short time later.”

The A149 is a busy road running through the Sandringham estate. Concerns had previously been raised about safety. By coincidence, Norfolk county council had been scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss plans to reduce the speed limit on the road from 60mph to 50mph and install safety cameras.

Berneen Caney, 25, who saw the aftermath of the collision, said: “It appeared to be quite serious. There was lots of glass over the road as well as debris.” He said the car was quite “badly damaged” and the Land Rover had its windows smashed.

Philip has not shown any inclination to give up driving despite his advanced years, and was photographed behind the wheel driving the then US president, Barack Obama, and the first lady, Michelle Obama, on their visit to Windsor in 2016.

Edmund King, the president of the AA, said: “We wish the Duke of Edinburgh well. Many commentators use high-profile car crashes involving elderly drivers as a reason to call for bans or restrictions on older drivers.

“If driving restrictions based on age and safety were introduced we would be more likely to restrict young drivers rather than older drivers.”

The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, shared a message of support for the prince.