Wimbledon school crash update: Second girl dies as third victim fights for life

The prime minister’s official spokesman said Rishi Sunak thanked the emergency services for their swift response.

The spokesman said: “The prime minister’s deepest condolences are with the family of the girl who has tragically lost her life.

“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.m

Mr Hammond said he was “very concerned” to hear about the “major incident”, adding: “My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone at The Study.”

He told the BBC: “Extraordinarily distressing and tragic incident on the last day of term … there has actually been a major incident declared. The air ambulance, the ambulance, the fire services, and the police are all in attendance.”

“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.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan described the incident as “devastating” and said: “My heart goes out to everyone affected.”

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 tweeted: “Thinking of all the families, pupils and staff affected by the terrible incident at a primary school in Wimbledon this morning. Thank you to the emergency services on site for their swift response.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I’m heartbroken at the news that an eight-year-old girl has so tragically died following the incident at a school in Wimbledon.

“My thoughts are with her loved ones, the school and wider community at this extremely difficult time, and on behalf of all Londoners I want to extend my deepest condolences to them.

“My heart goes out to everyone affected, including the other children and adults injured as a result of this incident, and I wish them all a full recovery.”

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.”

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.

The Study Prep school has issued a statement over yesterday’s “tragic accident”, which claimed the life of an eight-year-old girl.

At least 10 people were taken to hospital after a Land Rover crashed into a school building on the last day of term.

“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,” said the school on its website.

“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.”

Chief paramedic Dr John Martin from the London Ambulance Service said a total of 16 people were treated at The Study Preparatory School in Camp Road following the incident.

Dr Martin also gave an update at the press conference, saying: “At 9.54 we received a 999 call to a collision on Camp Road in Wimbledon.

“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.”

Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond, whose daughter previously attended The Study Prep school, offered his condolences over the crash in the prep school building.

Speaking at the scene, Mr Hammond told the PA news agency: “It was very clear, very quickly, that it was a major incident and the local police declared it just that.

“I think you will have seen by the sheer scale of the response from the paramedics, air ambulance, fire brigade and the police what an important and serious incident this is.

“And what a sad incident - it is tragically on the last day of term, for this young girl to have lost her life.

“This is a well-liked, well-respected, well-known school.

“Most of the children who go here will be Wimbledon families, and this will cause shock across the whole of the local community.”

A day that started in celebration quickly descend into horror as a Land Rover ploughed through a primary school fence and into a tea party, killing a girl, 8, and injuring 15 others.

Sitting around picnic tables in the grounds of The Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon pupils and staff were caught unaware when the powerful 4x4 smashed into the garden, inflicting catastrophic injuries on those in its path.

Horrific aerial pictures show the car was finally brought to a halt when it rammed into a wall of the building, surrounded by benches where the victims had been enjoying a celebration to mark the last day of term at the southwest London school before the summer holidays.

Holly Evans reports: