A devastating car crash at an elementary school in Wimbledon has left an 8-year-old girl fighting for her life and claimed the life of another girl of the same age, according to London police. The incident occurred on Thursday at the Study Preparatory School during an end-of-year party in the garden. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that the crash was not terror-related, but the cause of the accident remains unclear. A woman in her 40s is also in critical condition, while several others, including a 7-month-old girl, were taken to the hospital but are not in critical condition.
London police have reported that an 8-year-old girl is in life-threatening condition following a car crash at the Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon. Tragically, another girl of the same age lost her life in the incident. The crash occurred on a usually quiet, narrow road in southwest London when a Land Rover crashed through a fence and collided with a building. The children were having an end-of-year party in the garden at the time of the accident. Authorities have stated that the crash was not related to terrorism, but have not provided details on how the car veered off the road so severely.
The woman who was driving the vehicle has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on bail pending further investigation. She was also taken to the hospital, but her injuries are not life-threatening. It is unclear whether she is still hospitalized. The London ambulance service initially treated 16 people at the scene, with 10 of them later being hospitalized.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that the injured children were pupils at the school, while the injured adults were parents or carers, not staff members. Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, the local police commander for southwest London, expressed sympathy for the families affected by the tragedy and assured them of ongoing support during the investigation.
The crash occurred approximately a mile away from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which is currently hosting the Wimbledon tennis tournament. Ian Hewitt, the club’s chairman, visited the crash site to lay flowers and offer condolences to those affected. The school is situated in a relatively remote part of Wimbledon, surrounded by open spaces such as local parks, horse trails, and golf courses.
Members of the Wimbledon Common Golf Club, located opposite the crash site, held a minute’s silence outside the school gates to pay their respects and laid flowers. The close-knit community expressed deep sadness at the loss of a young life. The police have lifted the cordon around the crash site, allowing people to gather and pay their respects.