An eight-year-old girl has died with 10 people rushed to hospital after a Land Rover was crashed into a primary school on the last day of term.
Police were called to reports of a collision at The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, south-west London, just before 10am on Thursday (July 6) where it was established the car had been driven into the school building. A major incident was declared shortly afterwards.
The school said in a statement that it was 'profoundly shocked' by the tragedy as the Metropolitan Police announced that a woman in her 40s was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody.
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Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland fought back tears as she announced the age of the victim during a press conference outside the school on Thursday. The incident is not being treated as terror-related.
Chief Paramedic Dr John Martin from the London Ambulance Service added that a total of 16 people were treated at The Study Preparatory School in Camp Road following the incident.
Ms Kelland said: “Very sadly one of the children, an eight-year-old girl, died at the scene. Our thoughts are with her family at this incredibly difficult time.”
Dr Martin also gave an update at the press conference, saying: “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.”
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 underway 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.”
Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond, whose daughter previously attended the school, confirmed the eight-year-old girl died on the last day of term.
Speaking at the scene, Mr Hammond told the PA news agency: “It was very clear, very quickly, that it was a major incident and the local police declared it just that.
“I think you will have seen by the sheer scale of the response from the paramedics, air ambulance, fire brigade and the police what an important and serious incident this is.
“And what a sad incident – it is tragically on the last day of term, for this young girl to have lost her life. This is a well-liked, well-respected, well-known school. Most of the children who go here will be Wimbledon families, and this will cause shock across the whole of the local community.”
Police extended a large cordon around the school and television pictures from overhead showed the car up against the wall of the building, while firefighters and paramedics stood near a gap in the fencing at the entrance to the site.
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