A child has been killed after a car crashed into a school building in London (Picture: Getty Images)
An eight-year-old girl has tragically died and several others have been injured after a Land Rover crashed into a building at a school.
The collision happened at The Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon, southwest London, this morning and has prompted a huge response from the emergency services.
Pupils at the all girls school were in for their last day of term when the vehicle careered through the grounds and hit a wall.
It has been declared as a major incident and the Met Police has confirmed a child has been killed.
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.’
Here’s a look at everything we know so far about today’s awful events.
What time and where did the crash happen?
Emergency services were called to the scene in Wimbledon at 9.54am (Picture: Peter Macdiarmid/LNP)
The location of the school in Camp Road, Wimbledon
The Land Rover crashed shortly before 10am at The Study Preparatory School in Camp Road, in Wimbledon, southwest London.
Police say they were called to the scene alongside firefighters and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade at 9.54am.
Pictures from the scene show a picnic mat and table set up outside the school, suggesting the children had been enjoying an end-of-term outdoor activity.
How many people have been hurt?
A total of 16 people were injured in the crash.
Earlier, at least seven children and two adults were initially confirmed to have been hurt.
Tragically, one of those children is now confirmed to have died.
John Martin, a chief paramedic for the London Ambulance Service, has now said that a total of 16 patients were treated at the scene and 10 were taken to hospital afterwards.
How serious are the injuries of those involved?
At least 16 people have been injured – and one of those, a girl aged eight, has tragically died (Picture: Sky News)
Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond told the PA news agency several of those hurt were ‘critically injured’.
He said: ‘Since being declared by the local police a major incident, you’ve seen that we’ve had fire, air ambulance, ambulance and police on the scene.
‘There are a number of people who are critically injured as I understand it and given the scale of the response from emergency services… this is a very serious incident.’
Who was driving the Land Rover?
A woman, aged in her 40s, is understood to have been behind the wheel of the 4×4 when the crash happened.
Police say she stopped at the scene and has since been arrested.
A Met Police spokesman said after confirming the death of a child: ‘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.’
What’s happening at the scene?
Police have put a huge cordon in place while efforts at the scene continue (Picture: Getty Images)
Police extended a large cordon around the school and television pictures from overhead showed the car up against the wall of the building, while firefighters and paramedics stood near a gap in the fencing at the entrance to the site.
Police officers moved dog walkers and passers-by away from the scene as an air ambulance remained on the edge of the Common while a number of ambulances parked nearby.
Wimbledon and Putney Commons urged the public to stay away from the area.
They said on Twitter: ‘Following an incident at the edge of the Common on Camp Road, the public are asked to avoid that area of the Commons to allow free access to the emergency services. Thank you.
‘Emergency vehicles are likely to be using the Commons to get to the location so please be alert to what is happening and follow instructions from our staff. Thank you.’
The school
The Camp Road site caters for children between the ages of four and eight (Picture: Getty Images)
Conservative MP Mr Hammond said The Study Prep is a ‘very well-known and family-based school’.
He said where the school is located ‘generally will be regarded as an area where you wouldn’t see very much speeding’.
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.
Mr Hammond said the Camp Road site of the school caters for younger children between the ages of four and eight.
Wimbledon resident Julie Atwood told the PA news agency: ‘My daughter used to go to this school. It’s a girls’ school.
‘Wimbledon is like a little village. For this to happen in Wimbledon is unheard of. It’s terrible.’
What have the emergency services said?
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Police confirmed the incident is not being treated as terror related (Picture: Getty Images)
The Met Police confirmed that officers remain at the scene of a serious collision, along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
A spokesman said: ‘There have been further injuries and we await an update from the London Ambulance Service.
‘The driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene. We are not treating this incident as terror related.’
The force said earlier: ‘At this time nine people are reported injured, these include two adults and seven children. We await further updates on their conditions.
London Fire Brigade said on Twitter: ‘We are currently supporting emergency services at an incident at a school in Wimbledon.
‘We have two fire engines and two fire rescue units at the scene.’
Parents and local community devastated
Parents are in a state of either ‘relief or despair’ according to one witness (Picture: Getty Images)
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.’
The community has been shocked by the incident (Picture: Getty Images)
There has also been an outpouring of sadness among the community and senior figures in London.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said in a statement: ‘The incident this morning at a primary school on Camp Road in Wimbledon is absolutely devastating. My heart goes out to everyone affected. I remain in close contact with emergency services.’
Wimbledon Village Cllr Max Austin tweeted: ‘This is desperately sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family and all at The Study school.’
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she was ‘saddened’ by the incident, 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.’
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At least 16 people were injured.
