Woman, 8, killed in Wimbledon faculty crash named as mother and father pay tribute

An eight-year-old woman killed when a Land Rover crashed via a faculty fence in Wimbledon has been named by police.

Selena Lau died and 15 others, together with a seven-month-old child, have been injured when the 4×4 ploughed into an end-of-year tea get together within the backyard of The Research Preparatory faculty on Thursday.

Her household described her as “an clever and cheeky woman adored and beloved by everybody”.

The assertion issued via the Metropolitan police added: “The household needs their privateness to be revered at this unhappy time.”

Neighborhood members remembered Selena as a “shining star” following the crash.

It comes as one other eight-year-old woman and a lady in her 40s are combating for his or her lives in hospital after being hit

A 46-year-old driver of the automotive, a lady from Wimbledon, was arrested on the scene on suspicion of inflicting demise by harmful driving. She was taken to hospital in a non-life-threatening situation and has since been launched on bail pending additional inquiries.

Dozens of floral tributes have since been positioned on the faculty gates and pupils gathered to pay their respects to Selena on Friday.

A girl sporting a blue sling round her arm visited the scene and left flowers in a field and a card.

She left a observe, which learn: “Expensive Selena, you’ll all the time be our shining star. We’ll miss you a lot.”

One other observe learn: “Conserving all the kids, mother and father, lecturers, pals, and the area people in our warmest prayers.”

A neighborhood instructor, who didn’t wish to be named, claimed a few of the little one victims have been left with damaged bones after the crash, together with a damaged pelvis.

She mentioned: “A good friend of mine has pals who’ve youngsters who go to the varsity. She mentioned they’ve all types of damaged bones together with a damaged pelvis.

“I’m a instructor and I’m a mom and it may have occurred to us. It may have occurred to anyone.”

Witnesses have been mentioned to have heard “piercing screams” because the automobile ploughed via a playground the place a bunch of kids had been having fun with a tea get together.

At the least two adults have been injured, whereas a number of youngsters suffered non-life-threatening accidents. The youngsters are understood to be pupils on the faculty however the injured adults should not lecturers.

In an replace launched on Friday, Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, native policing commander for southwest London, mentioned: “It’s tough to think about the ache and upset the households of these concerned are going via. We’ll do all we will to assist them as our investigation continues.

“I do know the impression of this tragic incident can be being felt within the wider group and we’re working with our companions to make sure the suitable assist is in place.”

“I perceive many individuals will need solutions about how this occurred and there’s a staff of detectives working to determine the circumstances. I’d ask the group to keep away from speculating on a attainable trigger while these enquiries are carried out.”

She mentioned the police response was the biggest native policing deployment in southwest London since 2017 and emergency providers had been met with a “difficult and traumatic scene”.

“I wish to reward them for doing all they might to assist these injured. I’ve little question this incident would have additionally had a major impression on them, and we are going to guarantee their welfare is sorted,” she added.

London Ambulance Service mentioned it despatched 15 ambulances to the incident and handled 16 sufferers on the scene. Twelve individuals have been taken to hospital.

The college mentioned in a press release that it was “profoundly shocked” by what occurred.

A press release on its web site added: “Our ideas are with the bereaved household and with the households of these injured at this horrible time.

“It’s nonetheless far too quickly to totally perceive what occurred, however we’re nicely conscious of the numerous impression this dreadful occasion may have on our pupils and their households.

“Their welfare stays our prime precedence and we will likely be doing all the things we will to assist them, particularly those that suffered accidents.”