Cnn Had To Fend Off Hoax As Networks Jumped To Cover Diana's Crash

NEW YORK - Television networks scrambled to react to the story of Princess Diana's fatal car accident at a time they were probably least prepared - a Saturday night on a Labor Day weekend.

ABC, CNN and NBC all had word of Diana's death simultaneously at 11:50 p.m. EDT. CBS lagged behind the other networks.

CNN and ABC spent the most time pursuing reports in the first few hours after the crash. Anchor Brian Williams rushed in with coverage for NBC and its cable sister MSNBC.

CNN was apparently the victim of a hoax by someone claiming to have been an eyewitness to the crash. The man claimed he saw an injured Fayed after the crash and that he was upset. When asked by CNN's Linden Soles how he felt, the caller yelled into the phone in a high-pitched squeal and hung up.

The cable network also interviewed a spokeswoman for the Globe who defended the practice of paying photographers for pictures of celebrities. She would not say whether the tabloid would pay for photos of Diana's accident scene. Steve Coz, editor of the National Enquirer, told CNN his publication would not purchase paparazzi photos of the crash in an effort "to send a message."

Film star Tom Cruise called CNN to denounce paparazzi photographers. He called for laws to control the paparazzi and criticized the practice of paying for celebrity photos.

"When you're pursuing or chasing, that's harassment," he said, citing his own experiences being trailed by photographers.