Met to reopen investigation into Wimbledon crash that killed two schoolgirls

The Met police will reopen the investigation into the Wimbledon school crash that killed two eight year old girls last summer.

Two children died and 12 were injured after a Land Rover crashed through a fence and drove into the playground of The Study Prep school in Camp Road in July 2023.

Following the first investigation, families were told by the Crown Prosecution Service that the driver, Claire Freemantle, 47, would not be charged as she had suffered an epileptic seizure.

Ms Freemantle publicly expressed her “deepest sorrow” and said she had “no recollection of what took place”.

But, the families of the two eight year old girls who died, Selena Lau and Nuria Sajjad, were critical of the first investigation which left “questions unanswered”.

In June Nuria’s parents, Sajjad Butt and Smera Chohan and Selena’s parents Frankie Lau and Jessie Deng, said: “As long as those doubts remain, we remain unconvinced a fair and thorough investigation was conducted.”

Now four months later, following an internal review, Met officers have decided to open a new investigation into the crash.

The force said: “The review has identified a number of lines of enquiry that require further examination and, as such, the investigation will now be reopened.

“The families have been updated with this development and we will continue to meet with them to provide updates on the investigation as it progresses.

“We know this has been and remains a really difficult time for them.

“We believe this further investigative work will address all questions raised by the families affected.

“This further investigation will be undertaken by an accredited senior investigating officer and team with experience in homicide investigations.”

The families of the children who died have welcomed the new investigation.

Pictured top: Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight, died when a Land Rover crashed into their school playground in July 2023 (Picture: The Met)