Study Preparatory School Wimbledon crash: Girl, 8, fighting for life

A Land Rover Defender crashed into The Study Prep school on Camp Road just before 10am on Thursday, July 7, killing one eight-year-old girl who has been named as "Selena" in tributes at the scene and injuring others.

The 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been bailed by police.

The woman was taken to hospital following the incident where her injuries were assessed as not life threatening.

The car was removed from the scene last night and has been taken away for further examination.

Officers are not treating the incident as terror-related.

London Ambulance Service said it sent 15 ambulances to the incident and treated 16 patients at the scene.

Twelve were taken to hospital.

Amongst those injured in hospital is a seven-month-old girl whose condition has been assessed as not life-threatening.

Police have announced that the school-age children were pupils at the school and the injured adults were parents/carers of the children; not staff members.

It has been described as “the largest local policing deployment since 2017” with total of 35 police vehicles sent to the scene.

Officers are asking the public not to speculate whilst investigations are ongoing but are urging any witnesses to the tragedy to come toward and contact them quoting reference number CAD 2200/06Jul.

An aerial view of the Study Preparatory School (right) in Wimbledon (Image: PA)

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."

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said: “Detectives continue to investigate a collision at a school in Wimbledon.

“Police were called at 09:54hrs on Thursday, 6 July to reports that a car had crashed through a fence and collided with a building at The Study Prep School in Camp Road, SW19.

“A total of 35 police vehicles were deployed to the scene and officers worked with paramedics to give first aid to a number of people who had been injured.

“Sadly, despite the efforts of the emergency services, an eight-year-old girl died at the scene.

“Her parents are being supported by family liaison officers and our thoughts are with them at this time.

“A second eight-year-old girl was taken to hospital where she remains in a life-threatening condition. Her family have been informed and are also being supported.

“A woman, in her 40s, also remains in hospital in a critical condition.

“A number of other people – including a seven-month-old girl - were also taken to hospital and their conditions have been assessed as not life-threatening.

“We understand the school-age children were pupils at the school. The injured adults were parents/carers of the children; not staff members.

“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.

“Detectives from the Met's Serious Collision Investigation Unit are leading the investigation and their enquiries are ongoing. They are expected to remain at the scene throughout the day.

“The investigation remains in its early stages and officers are keeping an open mind whilst following up all lines of enquiry. We ask that people do not speculate about the circumstances while this work is ongoing.

“Officers have collected CCTV from nearby buildings and spoken with a number of witnesses. The car was removed from the scene last night and has been taken away for further examination.

“Any witnesses, who have not yet spoken to police, are asked to call 101 quoting CAD 2200/06Jul.”