A second eight-year-old girl is in a life-threatening condition after a car crashed into a primary school in southwest London.
Tributes have been left at the scene to a “shining star” – also an eight-year-old girl – who died after the crash in Wimbledon on Thursday.
A woman, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the crash at The Study Preparatory School on Camp Road.
She has been released on bail until a date later this month, the Metropolitan Police said today.
A baby – aged just seven months – was also injured in the collision.
A woman, in her 40s, also remains in hospital in a critical condition, the Met Police said in an update on Friday.
A total of 16 people were treated at the scene and 12 were taken to hospital following the incident which happened during a garden party to celebrate the end of the school year.
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“We understand the school-age children were pupils at the school,” the Met Police said in a statement.
“The injured adults were parents or carers of the children; not staff members,” the force added.
The Study Preparatory School said it was “profoundly shocked by the tragic accident” and “devastated that it has claimed the life of one of our young pupils as well as injuring several others”.
The independent school 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.
It is understood that the car hit the area of the school which housed the younger girls, aged between four and eight.
Tributes were left at the scene on Thursday. One read: “To The Study and parents. So sorry for this tragic loss to the school and the family. Forever in our thoughts.”
Another read: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you all on this tragic day.”
Ian Hewitt, chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, was among those who laid flowers at the school on Friday.
He told reporters: “We feel closely associated with the community.
“What a tragic incident. We just offer our heartfelt sympathies to all affected.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, local policing commander for south-west London, said officers were doing “all we can” to support families.
“It is difficult to imagine the pain and upset the families of those involved are going through,” she said.
“I know the impact of this tragic incident is also being felt in the wider community and we are working with our partners to ensure the appropriate support is in place.
“I understand many people will want answers about how this happened and there is a team of detectives working to establish the circumstances.
“I would ask the community to avoid speculating on a possible cause whilst these enquiries are carried out.”