The parents of an eight-year-old girl who died after a Land Rover crashed into an end-of-term tea party at a Wimbledon prep school have called for answers after what would have been their daughter’s ninth birthday.
Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, also eight years old, died after the vehicle crashed through a fence and collided with a building at The Study Prep school on Camp Road on the morning of July 6.
Nuria and her mother Smera Chohan had been taking a photograph together at the school when they were hit.
The eight-year-old died in hospital three days later.
Speaking on This Morning, Mrs Chohan explained it had been the last day of term when the incident happened and the girls had been speaking about their hopes and dreams.
Holding back tears the mother said the group were only supposed to be in the garden for ten minutes and that the parents had told Nuria “how proud we are of her and how much we love her” before the crash.
The mother and daughter had been taking photos in the garden and moved from the grass to by the building to take a picture together.
Mrs Chohan said: “I question myself every day. Had I stayed on the grassy spot for ten more seconds we would have not been hit. I hugged her and we shimmied along to get a photo and she is holding that half eaten pastry in her hands - which she never got to finish.”
Recalling the moment the crash happened the mother continued: “I don’t know where she was. I don’t know if she ran back to me thinking her mummy was going to save her. I don’t know if she saw the car. I will never know.”
The mother has had to undergo surgery since the crash and “had to learn to walk again,” explaining her mobility is still limited.
Mrs Chohan added: “She was my whole heart and my whole world. Yesterday was her ninth birthday. I did not know I could love so much, unconditionally. I promised to myself to protect her fiercely.”
Nuria’s father Sajjad Butt, described how Nuria was “our miracle” and that she “epitomised the best of everything.”
He added: “Her personality shone through in the first few months of her being. She enjoyed a good laugh. She was full of joy.
“She was so generous to the point at which we had to hold her back.”
The parents are now calling for answers eight months on from the incident.
Mr Butt explained they have been told “complexity and understaffing” have contributed to delays.
He said: “This was not a typical road traffic collision. Our girls were where they belonged. They were in the safest place they could be outside of their homes.”
“We find that a little difficult to swallow,” he commented.
A woman who was arrested after the incident was released under investigation in February.
The driver had previously been released under police bail.
Unlike being released on bail, a person released under investigation is under no time limits or requirement to return to a police station by a certain date, and no conditions.
Several people, including a seven-month-old girl, were also taken to hospital after the crash. They were later discharged.
A major incident was declared in the wake of the crash which saw more than 30 police vehicles sent to the scene, and 15 ambulances.
Shortly after Selena’s death, her family paid moving tribute to her as an “intelligent and cheeky girl" who was “loved by everyone".
The school is for girls aged four to 11 and is located by Wimbledon Common, just a mile away from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, where the Wimbledon tennis tournament was underway when the crash happened.
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, in charge of policing for south west London, said: “Our thoughts remain with the families of Nuria and Selena who we know are greatly loved and missed.
“This was a tragic incident and we understand that the families want and need answers as to what happened. We are continuing to give them specialist support through our dedicated family liaison officers who are providing updates on the investigation where they can.
“Specialist detectives have worked tirelessly to establish the circumstances of that day, including detailed analysis of CCTV and the examination of expert reports. We have also sought early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
“We recognise that the time taken can cause further distress but it is only right and fair to all involved that we carry out a thorough and extensive investigation.”
