Wimbledon school crash: Second 8-year-old girl and 40-year-old woman fight for their lives as driver bailed
Eight-year-old girl and woman are fighting for their lives in hospital after horrific crash that killed schoolboy Wimbledon school.
The tragedy unfolded when a Land Rover smashed through a fence at The Study Prep School in Camp Road shortly before 10am on Thursday, crashing into an end-of-term party.
Scotland Yard said on Friday afternoon that the driver of the car – a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon – had been released on bail. She was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
As a result of the tragedy, an eight-year-old girl, another 15, died childrenparents and guardians were injured.
In an update on the major incident, police confirmed that an eight-year-old girl is “in danger of death” and a woman in her 40s is in a “critical condition”.
After the accident, a seven-month-old girl and the driver of the car were taken to the hospital. Their condition is assessed as life-threatening.
The driver of the car stopped at the scene of the accident, where she was detained.
A police spokesman said on Friday: “She has been released pending further inquiries until a date in late July.”
Scotland Yard says officers are “remaining non-committal” as they continue to investigate the crash.
Touching flowers were left outside the school, and parents are holding injured children by their bedsides.
Teachers, parents and neighbors visited the scene, where about 25 bunches of flowers, a stuffed dog and candles were lit.
Among them was a woman wearing a blue arm sling who left a note at the scene that read: “Dear Selena, you will always be our shining star. We will miss you so much.”
She stopped to look at the flowers and was comforted by the man she was with.
Another card with flowers read: “So sorry for the loss to the school and family. Forever in our thoughts.”
Parents were called to the school to pick up their children, some told they had been involved in an incident.
They were seen jumping into ambulances with them and they remained at the bedside on Friday.
A Land Rover Defender is seen in the grounds of The Study Preparatory School in Camp Road, Wimbledon
/ ON wirePupils at the £16,000-a-year school were having an outdoor party to celebrate the last day of the summer term when the tragedy struck.
Medics said 16 patients were treated at the scene, 12 of them were taken to hospital.
The horrific scene faced by emergency services after the collision was revealed in pictures which showed the wreckage of the picnic strewn across the school field and the Land Rover crumpled after it ended up crashing into the school hall.
A witness told the Standard: “I heard a bang and a scraping of metal and then these high-pitched screams. It was horrible. Crying and wailing was heard. I will never forget it.”
A statement posted on The Study Preparatory School’s website on Thursday evening said: “We are deeply shocked by the tragic accident which took place this morning at Wilberforce House and are devastated that it has taken the life of one of our young pupils and was injured. several others.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the dead and the families of the injured at this terrible time. It is still too early to fully understand what happened, but we are well aware of the significant impact this terrible event will have on our students and their families.
Wimbledon School Car Crash | Tributes
“Their welfare remains our top priority and we will do everything we can to support them, especially those who have been injured.”
Chief Superintendent Clare Kelland, local police commander for south west London, said: “This is tragic news and our thoughts go out to the girl’s family and friends and to everyone affected today.
“We remain at the scene and continue to investigate all the circumstances of the incident.”
Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond said pupils at The Study were having a party when the incident happened.
The Conservative politician said: “I think it was just a normal end of year party. Just in the garden,” said the conservative politician.
“As I understand it, they were in the school, but outside of the classroom.”
When asked at the scene, John Tucker, chairman of the school board, said: “You may be aware that this tragedy has deeply affected the school community and we are really unable to make any further comment at this time.
“We will be communicating with everyone in the community about the next steps we will take as a school.”
Chief Paramedic Dr. John Martin of London Ambulance Service told reporters at the scene: “We sent several resources including specialist critical care doctors, the London Ambulance and 15 ambulances.
“We have reported a major incident. We treated 16 patients on site. Unfortunately, as we heard, one eight-year-old girl died.”
Earlier it was reported that a woman was driving the Land Rover in which the incident happened.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/wimbledon-school-crash-the-study-prep-school-victims-met-police-b1092862.html
