A gold-coloured Land Rover could be seen on school grounds surrounded by emergency responders
By Liz Jackson & Thomas Magill
BBC News
An eight-year-old girl has died after a car crashed into a primary school in Wimbledon, south-west London.
Paramedics treated 16 people for injuries after the Land Rover crashed into The Study Preparatory School in Camp Road at about 10:00 BST.
The driver, a woman in her 40s, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Worried parents had huddled at the police cordon, waiting for information, while emergency services worked.
The school is for girls aged four to 11 and located near Wimbledon Common, with the local MP saying pupils had been gathered for an end-of-year celebration party in the garden.
A major incident was declared, but the Met said it was not being treated as terror-related.
Watch: Our thoughts are with girl’s family – police
At a news conference Det Ch Sup Clair Kelland, local police commander for south-west London, became emotional, her voice breaking at times.
“This is a very difficult time for everyone here at the school and across the wider community,” she said.
“We would ask people not to speculate while we work to understand the full circumstances of what has happened during this tragic incident.
“Our officers have already spoken to a number of witnesses and have viewed the CCTV.”
John Tucker, chair of the board of governors, said “the school community is profoundly affected by this tragedy”.
The stationary Land Rover could be seen on school grounds, surrounded by plastic sheets and cordons.
London Ambulance Service took 10 people to hospital, with St George’s Hospital, in Tooting, “receiving a number of patients who are being cared for by our specialist clinical teams”.
About 20 ambulances were parked on Camp Road, along with two fire and rescue vehicles.
Firefighters were seen carrying various cutting equipment away from the scene.
A number of onlookers were earlier stood at the edge of the cordon at the top of the road, including worried parents who were turning up all morning.
An air ambulance could be seen parked on a field opposite the school
Once at the scene, they were asked to register their names and details with a police officer.
Many of them were huddled in groups looking very concerned.
MP for Wimbledon Stephen Hammond told the BBC part of the school where the crash happened was where pupils aged between four and eight would have been.
“It’s extremely distressing and extremely concerning,” he said, speaking earlier before police had announced the girl’s death.
“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,” he said.
‘End-of-year party’
He described the location as “really quite remote”, adding it was situated roughly a mile from Wimbledon village and on the way to several nearby golf clubs.
He later added pupils were gathered for the last day of term, saying: “I think it was a usual end-of-year celebration party. Just in the garden.”
He also tweeted: “My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone at The Study.”
The school’s website has been replaced by a holding page with a statement reading: “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 added: “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.”
The school, which costs £5,565 per term, is just a mile away from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club as it hosts the world-famous tennis tournament.
Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators earlier advised the public to stay away from part of the commons to allow emergency crews to reach the site more easily.
Image source, PA Media
The Met said several people were treated at the scene for injuries
A spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his “deepest condolences” were with the family of the girl who had died, and his thoughts were with all of those involved and injured.
Mr Sunak described the incident as “horrific”, adding it would have been terrifying for children, staff and parents.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “The incident this morning at a primary school on Camp Road in Wimbledon is absolutely devastating. My heart goes out to everyone affected.”
The vehicle was removed later in the day by a police lorry equipped with a small crane
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she was “saddened to hear about the tragic incident at the school in Wimbledon this morning”, adding in a tweet: “My thoughts are with everyone affected.
“I would like to thank emergency responders at the scene. It is important they are now able to carry out their investigation.”
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper thanked the emergency services on site “for their swift response”.
She said: “Thinking of all the families, pupils and staff affected by the terrible incident at a primary school in Wimbledon this morning.”
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