A GIRL has been killed as a car crashed into a girls’ prep school building.
The Metropolitan Police said a woman in her 40s has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the incident at The Study Preparatory School in Camp Road, Wimbledon, south-west London, on Thursday.
In a statement, the force said: “We can now confirm that sadly a child has died following an incident where a car collided with a building at a school in Wimbledon.
“We can also confirm that the driver of the vehicle, a woman aged in her 40s, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
“There have been further injuries and we await an update from the London Ambulance Service.”
The Met initially said seven children and two adults had been injured in the incident and the driver stopped at the scene.
We are currently supporting emergency services at an incident at a school in Wimbledon. We have two fire engines and two fire rescue units at the scene. Please follow @MPSMerton for further updates https://t.co/XoiOe8EQle
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) July 6, 2023
London Fire Brigade was also at the scene and sent two fire engines and two fire rescue units.
#UPDATE | Officers are responding to an incident at a primary school in Camp Road, Wimbledon. We were called at 09:54hrs to reports that a car collided with a building at the school. Several people are being treated at the scene. We will share further updates when we can.
— Merton Police (@MPSMerton) July 6, 2023
Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond told the BBC several of those injured were in a “critical” condition.
He said: “Extraordinarily distressing and tragic incident on the last day of term… there has actually been a major incident declared.
“There are a number of casualties and injuries as we know. I understand, and I don’t know the numbers, but I understand a number of those are being treated as critical.”
The school, which costs £5,565 per term, is for girls aged four to 11 and sits on Wimbledon Common, just a mile away from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club as it hosts the world-famous tennis tournament.
The Metropolitan Police said: “Officers remain at the scene of a serious collision at a primary school in Wimbledon.
“Police were called at 9.54am on Thursday, 6 July to reports that a car collided with a building at the school in Camp Road.
“Officers attended, along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
“At this time nine people are reported injured, these include two adults and seven children. We await further updates on their conditions.
“The driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene. There have been no arrests.”