In a devastating incident on Thursday, an SUV collided with an elementary school located on a narrow road in London’s Wimbledon district, resulting in the death of a young girl, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Although further injuries were reported, the police refrained from disclosing additional details at the time. Authorities had earlier confirmed that seven children and two adults sustained injuries in the crash, emphasizing that the incident was not considered to be terror-related.
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, the local police commander for southwest London, expressed condolences, stating, “This is tragic news, and our thoughts are with the girl’s family and friends, as well as everyone affected today.”
The police have apprehended the driver, a woman in her 40s, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Emergency services, including ground and air ambulances, were dispatched to The Study Preparatory School, a private all-girls institution, at 9:54 a.m. The vehicle involved, believed to be a Land Rover, came to a halt at the scene.
Stephen Hammond, the elected representative for Wimbledon in Parliament, revealed that the section of the school affected caters to children aged 4 to 8. “Given the scale of the response from emergency services… this is a very serious incident,” he commented, acknowledging that numerous individuals were critically injured.
Located approximately a mile away from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the prestigious venue for the renowned Wimbledon tennis tournament, the school sits in a relatively secluded area, surrounded by local parks, horse trails, and golf courses.
A significant police cordon has been established around the school, and aerial footage exhibited the SUV against the building’s wall. As a precautionary measure, dog walkers and passersby were escorted away from the scene, while an air ambulance remained stationed on the periphery of Wimbledon Common, a nearby expansive open space. Several ambulances were also present in the vicinity.
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Resident Julie Atwood shared her shock, stating, “Wimbledon is like a little village. For this to happen in Wimbledon is unheard of. It’s terrible.”
