An eight year-old girl killed when a Land Rover crash through a fence at her school as staff and children enjoyed an end-of-term tea party has been named as Selena Lau.
Her family released a short statement through police on Friday night, saying: "Selena was an intelligent and cheeky girl adored and loved by everyone. The family wishes their privacy to be respected at this sad time."
It comes as a woman arrested on suspicion of causing her death by dangerous driving has been released on police bail after questioning. Selena died of her injuries following the collision at the Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon, south-west London.
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A Met statement said: "The driver of the car, a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
"She was taken to hospital – her condition was assessed as not life-threatening. She has been bailed pending further inquiries to a date in late July. Detectives from the Met's Serious Collision Investigation Unit are leading the investigation and their inquiries are ongoing. They are expected to remain at the scene throughout the day.
"The investigation remains in its early stages and officers are keeping an open mind whilst following up all lines of inquiry. We ask that people do not speculate about the circumstances while this work is ongoing."
Another eight-year-old girl and a woman aged in her 40s remain in a critical condition in hospital, police said.
Several other people – including a seven-month-old girl – were also taken to hospital and their conditions have been assessed as not life-threatening, the Metropolitan Police said. The injured adults were parents or carers and not staff at the school, the force added. Officers are not treating the incident as terror-related.
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, local policing commander for south-west London, said: “It is difficult to imagine the pain and upset the families of those involved are going through and we will do all we can to support them as our investigation continues.
“I know the impact of this tragic incident is also being felt in the wider community and we are working with our partners to ensure the appropriate support is in place.
“I understand many people will want answers about how this happened and there is a team of detectives working to establish the circumstances.”
A police cordon was no longer in place on Friday morning while flowers and tributes had been placed along the entrance to the school. A woman wearing a blue sling around her arm visited the scene and left flowers in a box and a card.
She paused to look at the flowers and was consoled by a man she was with.
She left a note at the scene saying: “Dear Selena, you will always be our shining star. We will miss you so much.” The note included a picture of a star and had kisses on it. Another tribute left at the scene said: “To the Study and parents. So sorry for this tragic loss to the school and the family. Forever in our thoughts.
Ian Hewitt, chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis club, also laid flowers at the scene. He told reporters: “We feel closely associated with the community. What a tragic incident – we just offer our heartfelt sympathies to all affected.”
Members of the Wimbledon Common Golf Club, which is opposite the school, held a minute’s silence outside the school gates on Friday afternoon.
London Ambulance Service said it sent 15 ambulances to the incident and treated 16 patients at the scene. Twelve were taken to hospital. The school said in a statement that it was “profoundly shocked” by what happened.
