Wimbledon car crash latest: Eight year-old girl killed and 16 injured in primary school tragedy

Seven children and two adults have been injured after a Land Rover crashed into an all-girls’ prep school in Wimbledon, as multiple people are fighting for their lives.

More than 20 emergency services vehicles were present outside The Study Prep Wimbledon school on Camp Road, as Merton Police confirmed it is not treating the incident as “terror-related”.

Conservative MP for Wimbledon, Stephen Hammond told the BBC the “extraordinarily distressing” incident occurred on the final day of term.

“The air ambulance, the ambulance, the fire services, and the police are all in attendance,” Mr Hammond said. “The size of the response tells you how serious the incident is and there are a number of casualties, and I understand that a number of those are being treated as critical.”

The Study Prep Wimbledon, with pupils aged between four and 11, declined to comment on the incident.

The all-girls school is located about a mile from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club where the Wimbledon Grand Slam championship is currently taking place.

Have you been affected by this story? If so email tara.cobham@independent.co.uk.

Key Points

• Several people being treated by emergency services

• Incident ‘extremely distressing and concerning’, says Wimbledon MP

• School declines to comment

• Police not treating incident as terror-related

Flowers left near school where eight-year-old girl died

19:08 , Martha Mchardy

Flowers have been placed near the school where a young girl died in a car collision in Wimbledon.

New Malden residents Sophia Graham, 27, and Tayla Landsberg, 22, who brought flowers to the police cordon said: “When we found out one of the kids had died it was awful.

“When the police made their announcement it was so sad to see even them get emotional. It’s made a big impact on everyone.

“Kids walk in the Common freely without thinking about it.”

Ms Landsberg said: “It’s usually very peaceful, very bubbly with lots of fun activities going on.”

Land Rover removed from scene after eight-year-old girl killed

18:34 , Martha Mchardy

A Land Rover has been removed from The Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon where an eight-year-old girl died earlier on Thursday.

The car, covered in a green tarpaulin, was loaded on a police truck and driven away past broken and bent metal railings.

The police cordon outside the school has been reduced, allowing more access to Wimbledon Common.

Police lorry arrives on scene

18:21 , Martha Mchardy

A flatbed police lorry has arrived at the school in Wimbledon, south London, where an eight-year-old died after a collision with a Land Rover.

The police cordon was briefly lifted to allow the vehicle to pass through West Place.

Wimbledon primary school releases statement after eight-year-old pupil killed in crash

18:18 , Martha Mchardy

In a statement published on its website, The Study Preparatory School said: “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 under way 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.”

Stephen Hammond arrives at the scene of prep school crash

18:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

Speaking to The Independent at the scene, Stephen Hammond, the Conservative MP for Wimbledon, said that the primary school was “well-known” in the area and catered to a number of Wimbledon families.

Describing the news as “tragic”, he wrote on social media that his thoughts are with the family and friends of the girl who has died.

My colleagues Tara Cobham and Holly Evans report:

Girl killed after Land Rover crashes into Wimbledon primary school as driver arrested

Land Rover crashed into new school building, former pupil’s father says

17:30 , Maanya Sachdeva

The parent of a former pupil of The Study Prep school, where an eight-year-old girl died this morning, said news of the crash had left him feeling “very emotional”.

The man, who didn’t want to be named, told the Press Association: “It’s unbelievable. I heard about it this morning, it’s terribly sad. I just feel very emotional.

He added that the building the Land Rover crashed into is new, explaining “it’s only been there for about a year”.

Education secretary releases new statement

17:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

Education secretary Gillian Keegan has said the “devastating incident” in Wimbledon this morning happened when children “should have been enjoying their last day of term”.

In a new statement, the MP said: “It is devastating that a young girl has lost her life in the tragic incident in Wimbledon this morning and my heart goes out to her parents and the families of those injured and impacted by this tragic event.

“The staff and children of the Study Preparatory School should have been enjoying their last day of term and my thoughts remain with them and the wider community at this devastating time.”

She added that the incident is “still ongoing” as emergency services remain at the scene.

Rishi Sunak thanks emergency responders after ‘terrifying’ Wimbledon crash

16:28 , Maanya Sachdeva

A spokesman for Rishi Sunak offered the prime minister’s deepest condolences to the family of the eight-year-old girl who “tragically lost her life” in the Wimbledon school crash today.

“His thoughts are with all those injured and involved in the horrific collision in Wimbledon this morning.

“This will have been a terrifying experience for all of the children, staff and parents,” the spokesman continued, adding the prime minister thanked emergency services for their swift response.

‘My thoughts are with the girl’s family’: Hammond

15:58 , Maanya Sachdeva

Conservative MP for Wimbledon Stephen Hammond has reacted to news that an eight-year-old girl died after a Land Rover crashed into The Study Prep school, in Camp Road.

It is tragic to hear the news that a young girl has died following this morning’s incident at The Study School.” Mr Hammond tweeted. “My thoughts are with the girl’s family and friends.”

Earlier in the day, Mr Hammond described the incident as “extraordinarily devastating”.

Police to review evidence, identify witnesses in coming days

15:34 , Maanya Sachdeva

When asked what the force’s next steps would be, DCS Kelland said: “There’s a person in custody that will have to be interviewed and from that stage onwards we’ll have to review the evidence and make a decision about what actually happened.”

She said officers will be looking to identify witnesses and review CCTV footage in the coming days.

School community ‘profoundly affected’ by tragedy

15:29 , Maanya Sachdeva

When asked about impact of the tragedy on the school, John Tucker, the Chair of Governors, told the press conference the community had been “profoundly affected” by the incident on Thursday, but he wasn’t in a position to make further comment.

16 patients treated on scene

15:11 , Maanya Sachdeva

Dr John Martin, the chief paramedic at the London Ambulance Services, said: “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,” he continued.

Our thoughts go out to all those affected by the tragedy today, deputy assistant commissioner Andy Pennick of the London Fire Brigade added.

When asked if there are likely to be any more fatalities, DCS Kelland said: “All I can say is a number of people are being treated.”

Girl who died was eight, police say

15:09 , Maanya Sachdeva

An eight-year-old girl died at the scene, Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland said at a press conference. “This is a very difficult time for everyone here at the school and across the wider community”.

Ms Kelland’s voice broke as she described the accident, adding: “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.”

She added that a woman in her 40s, arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, remains in custody.

She asked people not to speculate while investigations are underway, adding police are not treating the incident as “terror-related”.

Police set to give update on primary school crash after girl dies

14:57 , Maanya Sachdeva

Police are set to give an update on the Wimbledon primary school car crash, after it was confirmed one girl had died and a woman has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Follow our live blog as we continue to bring you all the latest updates.

Witness ‘distraught’ by crash

14:43 , Matt Mathers

One witness outside the Wimbledon school said parents had collected their children, with some described as “distraught”.

Zac Powell, who did not give his age or address, told reporters: “I arrived at around quarter past 10, within 15 minutes of the incident happening.

“I saw a lot of distraught parents rushing from the scene on my arrival.

“Since then I have seen a lot of parents coming and picking up their children with expressions of relief or despair.

“There was quite a lot of damage I could see. Even from a distance.

“Within 15 minutes of my arrival there were armed police response units here at the scene.”

Breaking: girl dies after Land Rover crash

14:31 , Matt Mathers

Police have confirmed that a girl has died after a Land Rover crashed into an all-girls’ prep school in Wimbledon.

Officers also confirmed that a woman has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, local police commander for south west London, said: “This is tragic news and our thoughts are with the girl’s family and friends, and everyone affected today.

“We remain at the scene and are continuing our investigation into the full circumstances of the incident.” 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.”

Land Rover crashed through end-of-term tea party, reports say

13:50 , Maanya Sachdeva

The gold Land Rover reportedly crashed through an “end-of-term tea party”, injuring seven children and two adults at The Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon on Thursday

A local reportedly told the Evening Standard: “I was told there was an end of term party when the car careered into the school. Everyone is extremely shaken up.”

Another person allegedly told the Mirror “the children were sat on the grass with their teachers” as the tea party was reportedly underway when the collision occurred.

Ministers react to ‘tragic’ Wimbledon crash

13:05 , Maanya Sachdeva

Home secretary Suella Braverman on Thursday expressed her condolences to those affected by the primary school crash in Wimbledon on Twitter. She also thanked emergency responders outside The Study Prep, adding “ it is important they are now able to carry out their investigation”.

Conservative MP for Chichester and Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan tweeted: “I am deeply concerned by reports of an incident at a primary school in Wimbledon this morning.

“My thoughts are with families, staff and the community involved and I am hugely grateful for the fast action of the emergency services who are currently at the scene.”

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper also thanked emergency services for their “swift response” this morning.

12:39 , Liam James

First pictures show the car that crashed into prep school

12:22 , Maanya Sachdeva

First pictures show the car that crashed into The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, as Conservative MP Stephen Hammond described the incident as “extraordinarily distressing and tragic”.

He told the BBC multiple people are seriously injured following Thursday morning’s crash, adding: “The size of the response tells you how serious the incident is and there are a number of casualties, and I understand that a number of those are being treated as critical.

Seven children and two adults injured, Met confirms

11:56 , Eleanor Noyce

Seven children and two adults have been injured, the Metropolitan Police confirmed to The Independent.

Police not treating incident as terror-related

11:40 , Eleanor Noyce

Police have confirmed that they are not treating the incident as terror-related.

“We are not treating this incident as terror-related”, Merton Police confirmed via Twitter.

“An investigation is under way to understand the full circumstances of what has taken place.”

Officers pictured responding to car crash at Wimbledon school

11:37 , Eleanor Noyce

Officers, firefighters and paramedics, including London’s Air Ambulance, responded to the incident at around 9.54am on Thursday at The Study Preparatory School in Camp Road, Wimbledon.

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 are responding to an incident at a primary school in Camp Road, Wimbledon.

“We were called at 9.54am 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.”

Incident ‘extremely distressing and concerning’, says Wimbledon MP

11:26 , Eleanor Noyce

Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP for Wimbledon, told BBC Radio London: “It’s obviously extremely distressing and extremely concerning.”

“I’ve just spoken to the local police, they are in attendance as are both air and paramedics.

“There are a number of casualties, I’m not clear how many. I know the area well, obviously.

“The area is really quite remote, but actually it’s a road that has quite a number of people that drive up and down it to the golf clubs.”

School declines to comment

11:21 , Eleanor Noyce

Police said they were responding to a serious collision at a primary school in Wimbledon, south London, and several people were being treated at the scene.

“We were called at 09:54hrs on Thursday, 6 July to reports that a car collided with a building at the school in Camp Road,” London’s Met Police said in a statement.

London ambulance, including the air ambulance, and fire brigade services were also in attendance.

The police said they would provide further updates when possible. The Study Prep Wimbledon, also known as Wilberforce House, which is located on Camps Road, declined to comment when asked about the incident.

Camps Road is about a mile from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club where the Wimbledon Grand Slam championship is currently taking place.

Several people being treated by emergency services

11:19 , Holly Evans

A number of people are being trated at a primary school in Camp Road, Wimbledon after a car crashed into a building.

Merton MPS wrote on Twitter: “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.”