Second girl, 8, fights for life and woman in her 40s critical after Wimbledon school crash as driver bailed
7 July 2023, 10:13 | Updated: 7 July 2023, 15:16
A second eight-year-old girl and a woman in her 40s are fighting for life after the Wimbledon prep school crash - with a seven-month-old baby confirmed to have been among the injured.
A Met Police spokesperson said: 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."
The driver of the vehicle has been bailed under investigation for the crash which killed an eight-year-old girl yesterday.
Parents have been holding bedside vigils in hospital for children who were injured by a Land Rover that was driven into their south-west London school, as tributes came in for the girl who died.
The car crashed into the Study Prep school in Wimbledon on Thursday, killing an eight-year-old girl and leaving several others fighting for their lives. One girl has a broken pelvis, a local mother said, while others have broken bones.
Children at the private school were outside enjoying a tea party when the two-tonne vehicle crashed through the outdoor play area. Some parents were at the party, while others were due to come pick up their children later when they left work.
A total of 16 patients - both children and adults - were treated at the scene, and ten were taken to hospital, according to the London Ambulance Service. A witness to the crash saw a baby among those injured at the primary school.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Police think she may have suffered some kind of 'medical incident' - such as a heart attack or seizure. She spent Thursday night in the cells and police have continued questioning her on Friday.
Officers have also since removed the car.
The name of the girl who died was named on Friday by a well-wisher, who left a note at the scene saying: "Dear Selena, you will always be our shining star. We will miss you so much."
A statement on the school's website said: "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.
Residents living near the school have described the immediate aftermath of the crash, as people shouted for ambulances and describing "lots of blood on the floor".
One eyewitness, James, who lives in direct view of the school, told LBC he looked over his fence after hearing the sound of splintering wood and metal and a loud crash.
He said he ran outside to shouts of "Get an ambulance, get an ambulance!" and "Kids, kids, kids" and said there was "lots of blood on the floor."
"People were shouting 'get the kids get the kids'," he added.
He described the woman who was arrested as having dark hair and being about 35-40 years old.
"I spoke to a jogger after the police arrived and she said the car flew past her and she moved out the way thinking it was just speeding.
"It should’ve stopped at the junction, but it went straight through it, through the barrier then through the fence and then all the way through the field and hit the wall."
Officers are not treating the incident as terror-related. As well as questioning the suspect, police are going over CCTV to wrk out how the vehicle could have ended up on the school grounds.
