An eight-year-old girl and a woman in her 40s are in a critical condition in hospital after the driver of a Land Rover, who has now been released on bail, crashed her car into a preparatory school killing another eight-year-old.
The woman, 46, who has not been named, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving in Wimbledon on Thursday.
The Metropolitan police said the second eight-year-old was in a life-threatening condition, while the woman in her 40s was in a critical condition in hospital on Friday.
A seven-month-old girl was among a number of others still in hospital whose conditions had been assessed as not life-threatening.
The Met said the children were pupils at the school and the injured adults were parents or carers of the children and not staff members.
Tributes to the eight-year-old girl who died were made as mourners left floral tributes and paid their respects at the scene of the crash on Friday.
In notes left with the flowers outside the school, people spoke of their sadness, passed on their condolences and vowed to come together as a community.
One woman left flowers and a note reading: “You will always be our shining star. We will miss you so much.” Others wrote: “The community of Wimbledon beats and pulses as one. Let us help. We pray that the many happy memories formed at this wonderful school and in your family lives can wrap their arms around you and, in time, bring some comfort.”
Some expressed thanks to staff at the school. One read: “Dear all staff that work here, I hope you are all OK. I’m so sorry. Thank you for all that you are doing to help.” Another said: “Keeping all the children, parents, teachers and the local community in our warmest prayers.”
Others said those affected had the “thoughts and prayers” and the “deepest condolences” of mourners. “So sorry for this tragic loss to the school and the family. Forever in our thoughts,” read one note.
Ian Hewitt, the chair of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, also visited the scene. The Wimbledon championships are taking place about a 15-minute walk from the school and Hewitt told reporters: “We feel closely associated with the community. What a tragic incident – we just offer our heartfelt sympathies to all affected.”
He left flowers and a note that read: “On behalf of everyone at Wimbledon, we wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the tragic events at Wimbledon Study preparatory school. Our thoughts are with all of you at this deeply distressing time.”
On Friday afternoon, a black-cab driver pulled up outside the school, stood quietly facing the scene for a few moments, said a few words to himself, then got back in his cab and drove away.
Faiza Samad, whose 12-year-old daughter, Rania, finished at the primary school last year, told reporters it was an end-of-term tradition to have a picnic. “When it happened, yesterday all the mums were texting. My friend, her daughter was in year 2. [She] was in the back of the building. We were all panicked and we were texting each other.
“I was feeling sad when I heard it because it was an eight-year-old girl and it was her last day.”
Police questioned the woman in her 40s before releasing her on bail after a Land Rover Defender crashed into the Study prep school in Wimbledon just before 10am on Thursday. She was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Officers are not treating the incident as terror-related.
DCS Clair Kelland, the 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.”
