Two eight-year-old girls have died and 16 others were left injured after a car crashed into an end-of-year tea party at a primary school in Wimbledon on Thursday (July 6).
It is now four days since the incident occurred and here is what we know so far about the tragedy and the ongoing investigation.
What happened and where?
Police were called at 9:54am to reports that a car had crashed through a fence and crashed into a building at The Study Prep School in Camp Road.
The Land Rover crashed into an end-of-term tea party at the school, killing two girls and injuring others.
A major incident was declared, and people were urged to avoid the area, as a large cordon extending around the school was put in place by police.
Officers are not treating the incident as terror-related.
The car, covered in a green tarpaulin, was loaded on a police truck and driven away past broken and bent metal railings.
The school, which costs £5,565 per term, is for girls aged four to 11 and sits on Wimbledon Common, just a mile away from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club as it hosts the world-famous tennis tournament.
Who are the victims?
Two eight-year-old girls have died following the crash into the primary school last Thursday.
Nuria Sajjad died on Sunday (July 9) and Selena Lau died at the scene on the day of the incident.
Nuria’s family said: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Nuria on Sunday, 9 July 2023.
“Nuria was the light of our lives. She embodied joy, kindness and generosity and she was loved by all around her.
“We would like to thank the efforts of the emergency services, all the extraordinary staff at St George’s Hospital, the parents of Nuria’s class fellows and staff of the Study Prep for all they have done to ease Nuria’s journey.
“We request that our privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
In a statement released at the time, Selena’s family said: "Selena was an intelligent and cheeky girl adored and loved by everyone. The family wishes their privacy to be respected at this sad time.”
A woman aged in her 40s remains in hospital in a serious condition.
A number of other people, including a seven-month-old girl, were also taken to hospital with injuries later assessed as non-life threatening.
Emergency service response?
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.
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, local policing commander for south-west London, said: "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.”
London Ambulance Service said it sent 15 ambulances to the incident and treated 16 patients at the scene. Twelve were taken to hospital.
The injured adults were parents or carers and not staff at the school.
Arrest?
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 and her condition was assessed as non-life threatening.
Police said she has been bailed to a date in late July pending further inquiries.
A source told The Sun that she was in a delirious condition and had bitten through her tongue after having a seizure at the wheel.
They said: “She’d stopped outside the school but the car took off as if the driver had suddenly floored the accelerator.
“At this point the police believe she had some kind of seizure just before the accident.”
The Metropolitan Police have not issued a comment on this suggestion and their investigation is ongoing.
Community response?
A local teacher, who did not want to be named, told the PA news agency many of them have broken bones including a broken pelvis.
They said: “A friend of mine has friends who have children who go to the school.
“She said they have all kinds of broken bones including a broken pelvis.
“I’m a teacher and I’m a mother and it could have happened to us. It could have happened to anybody.”
The school said in a statement that it was “profoundly shocked” by what happened.
Thomas Barlow, councillor for Wimbledon Village, speaking to the PA news agency at the scene of the crash on Saturday, said: “Everyone’s in complete shock that something like this could happen… and the fact that this happened on the last day of term which was clearly a happy day at school is horrendous.
“The whole village is in shock, a lot of the people had connections to this school.”
New Malden residents Sophia Graham, 27, and Tayla Landsberg, 22, who brought flowers to the police cordon said: “When we found out one of the kids had died it was awful.
“When the police made their announcement it was so sad to see even them get emotional. It’s made a big impact on everyone.
“Kids walk in the Common freely without thinking about it.”
Members of the Wimbledon Common Golf Club, which is opposite the school, held a minute’s silence outside the school gates on Friday afternoon.
Speaking afterwards, Peter Thompson, chairman of the golf club, said: “We’re close neighbours, we’ve got close links with The Study.
“When they were doing their refurbishments they used one of our offices. It’s shocked the whole membership.
“It’s just so sad to lose someone so young.”
Tributes?
A police cordon was no longer in place on Friday morning while flowers and tributes had been placed along the entrance to the school.
A woman wearing a blue sling around her arm visited the scene and left flowers in a box and a card.
She paused to look at the flowers and was consoled by a man she was with.
She left a note at the scene saying: “Dear Selena, you will always be our shining star. We will miss you so much.”
The note included a picture of a star and had kisses on it.
Ms Landsberg said: “It’s usually very peaceful, very bubbly with lots of fun activities going on.”
Another tribute left at the scene said: “To the Study and parents. So sorry for this tragic loss to the school and the family. Forever in our thoughts.
Ian Hewitt, chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis club, also laid flowers at the scene.
He told reporters: “We feel closely associated with the community. What a tragic incident – we just offer our heartfelt sympathies to all affected.”
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