Wimbledon crash: Baby hurt & girl, 8, fighting for life after car slammed into school & killed pupil – as driver bailed
AN eight-year-old is fighting for her life and a baby is injured after a car smashed into a school at an end-of-term tea party.
It comes after another eight-year-old was killed in the horror crash at The Study prep school in Wimbledon, South London yesterday.
A number of other people – including a seven-month-old girl – were rushed to hospital and their conditions have been assessed as not life-threatening.
Cops have now revealed the eight-year-old and a woman, in her 40s, remain in hospital in critical condition.
The driver of the car, a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
She was taken to hospital – her condition was assessed as not life-threatening.
She has been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in late July.
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, local policing commander for south-west London, said: “It is difficult to imagine the pain and upset the families of those involved are going through and we will do all we can to support them as our investigation continues.
“I know the impact of this tragic incident is also being felt in the wider community and we are working with our partners to ensure the appropriate support is in place.
“This was the largest local policing deployment in south-west London since 2017 and our officers, along with members of the other emergency services, were met with a challenging and traumatic scene.
“I would like to praise them for doing all they could to help those injured. I have no doubt this incident would have also had a significant impact on them, and we will ensure their welfare is looked after.
“I understand many people will want answers about how this happened and there is a team of detectives working to establish the circumstances. I would ask the community to avoid speculating on a possible cause whilst these enquiries are carried out.”
This morning the eight-year-old girl who lost her life was named as Selena by heartbroken members of the community.
One floral tribute read: “Dear Selena, you will always be our shining star. We will miss you so much.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland choked back tears yesterday as she revealed the news of the child’s death.
Medics and rangers from Wimbledon Common rushed to help the school after the horror accident.
The crash is not being treated as terror-related.
The children were taking part in a tea party outside when the vehicle careered across the grass, crushing tables and chairs before hitting the building.
Glass shards and wall rubble were left strewn across the playground.
One local said: “It’s terrible, the children were sat on the grass with their teachers for the end of the school year having a tea party.”
The school issued a statement yesterday evening, saying staff are “profoundly shocked” by the awful news, which had a “significant impact” on pupils and families.
A spokesperson added: “Our thoughts are with the bereaved family and with the families of those injured at this terrible time.”
It comes as the borough is currently hosting to the world-famous tennis championship that bears its name.
A Wimbledon spokesperson said: “On behalf of everyone at Wimbledon, we wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the tragic events at Wimbledon Study Preparatory School.
“Our thoughts are with them, their families, the school and the wider community at this deeply distressing time.”
The £16,000-a-year school caters for girls up to age 11, where headteacher Helen Lowe was on her last day.