Several children fight for life in school crash that left girl, 8, dead
Several children were left fighting for their life on Thursday night among 16 victims of a horror Land Rover crash[1] at a school[2] which killed an eight-year-old girl.
The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, southwest London, has spoken of its “profound shock” after the vehicle collided with a group of partying children on the last day of term.
The little girl, who has not yet been publicly named, died at the scene.
Ten other people, including more children at the school, were dashed to hospital, where they remain in serious conditions. Study Prep, an independent fee-paying boarding school, caters for more than 300 pupils aged as young as four.
A Land Rover, since removed from the scene, collided into a school building (
Peter Macdiarmid/LNP)
A woman in her 40s was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in police custody.
Speaking at the scene on Thursday night, Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond said: “Very concerned to hear about the Study Preparatory School at Camp Road this morning.
“A major incident has been declared and I know all emergency services are on site. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone at The Study.”
Flowers have been placed near the school, including some left by tearful parents who were pictured in poignant embraces on Thursday afternoon.
People gather outside a cordon at the scene of the crash at The Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon (
Getty Images)
Sophia Graham, 27, and Tayla Landsberg, 22, who live nearby, brought flowers to the police cordon. They 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.”
Ms Landsberg said: “It’s usually very peaceful, very bubbly with lots of fun activities going on.”
A police recovery vehicle takes the Land Rover, covered in green tarpaulin, away (
UKNIP UKNIP)
Dr John Martin, chief paramedic at London Ambulance Service, said a total of 16 people were treated at The Study Preparatory School in Camp Road, ten of whom were taken to hospital.
Speaking at press conference, alongside colleagues from Metropolitan Police, Dr Martin said: “At 9.54 we received a 999 call to a collision on Camp Road in Wimbledon.
“We dispatched multiple resources including specialist critical care paramedics, London’s air ambulance and 15 ambulances.
“We declared a major incident. We treated 16 patients on scene. Sadly, as we’ve heard, one eight-year-old girl died.”
Several people, including children, were treated at the scene and some of whom have been taken to hospital (
TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland had to compose herself as she addressed the media (
PA)
In a statement on its website, the school confirmed several other children are among those hurt but said it is “still far too soon” to comprehend what had happened at around 10am on Thursday.
The school said on its website: “We are profoundly shocked by the tragic accident this morning at Wilberforce House and devastated that it has claimed the life of one of our young pupils as well as injuring several others.
“Our thoughts are with the bereaved family and with the families of those injured at this terrible time. It is still far too soon to fully understand what happened, but we are well aware of the significant impact this dreadful event will have on our pupils and their families.
“Their welfare remains our top priority and we will be doing everything we can to support them, especially those who suffered injuries.
“Now that a police investigation is under way we will not be making any further public statement for the time being and would ask that the privacy of our school community is respected at this deeply upsetting time.”
A Land Rover Defender is seen inside the grounds of the fee-paying school in the capital (
Peter Macdiarmid/LNP)
As the school is independent and fee paying, it is not overseen by Ofsted, and instead is inspected by the Independent School Inspectorate, which after its last visit in June 2019, praised the school for its “excellent” quality of pupils’ personal development and quality of pupils’ academic achievements and other achievements.
Photographs taken on Thursday evening showed parents in tears outside the gates of the £16,000-a-year school as police activity continued, with a Land Rover removed from the scene on the back of a lorry.
The children are understood to have been sat outside on the grass having a tea party when the vehicle smashed through the fence following the driver’s alleged medical episode.
An air ambulance landed on nearby Wimbledon Common as emergency services scrambled deployment at the crash (
Getty Images)
Close to tears, Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, local police commander for south west London, said: “This is tragic news and our thoughts are with the girl’s family and friends, and everyone affected today.
“We remain at the scene and are continuing our investigation into the full circumstances of the incident.”
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The incident this morning at a primary school on Camp Road in Wimbledon is absolutely devastating. My heart goes out to everyone affected.
“Police are on the scene and have confirmed the incident is not being treated as terror-related. An investigation is underway to understand the full circumstances and I continue to stay in close contact with the Met and other emergency services.
“Please avoid the area to allow emergency services free access to help all those who need it. If you have any information about the incident please call police on 101.”
Authorities continue to establish the full circumstances of the horror but it is not thought to be terror related (
Eliza Brandreth)
Officers had initially moved dog walkers and passers-by away from the scene as an air ambulance remained on the edge of the Common while a number of ambulances parked nearby.
Wimbledon resident Julie Atwood said: “My daughter used to go to this school. It’s a girls’ school.
“Wimbledon is like a little village. For this to happen in Wimbledon is unheard of. It’s terrible.”
One couple who live nearby – Ann and John, who did not want to give their last name – spoke of their sorrow.
“It was the last day of the old headmistress’ career…Or at the school, anyway. I don’t know if she retired fully,” John said.
Communities near the school in Wimbledon are rocked by the tragedy and shared their thoughts with those affected (
PA)
“The new headteacher was there when the old one was speaking to police. I walked by at around 11 o’clock, and there was a real scene. I doubt many people would have witnessed it. There might have been some golf players, but nobody other than that.
“The trouble with these big four-by-fours is, when they crash into something, they wreck it.”
Ann added: “Nothing like this has ever happened before. I think it will take a long time for people to get over this. This is a nice, quiet area of Wimbledon.”
Tweets from Wimbledon and Putney Commons urged the public to stay away from the area.
The investigation continues.
References
- ^ Land Rover crash (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ school (www.mirror.co.uk)