Wimbledon school crash: Families of two eight-year-old girls killed criticise decision to not charge driver

26 June 2024, 14:40 | Updated: 26 June 2024, 18:12

The families of two eight-year-old girls who were killed when a car crashed into a school have criticised the decision not to charge the driver.

Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau died after a Land Rover smashed through a fence and hit a building at The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, southwest London.

The school had been hosting an end-of-term party at the time.

More than a dozen people were injured in the crash, which happened on the morning of 6 July last year.

A 46-year-old woman, later named as Claire Freemantle, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has now announced it will not be pursuing charges against her.

The parents of the two young girls said the decision had denied them "justice".

Prosecutors described the deaths as an "unthinkable tragedy" but said Ms Freemantle had suffered an epileptic seizure behind the wheel at the time of the crash.

The CPS said its decision was based on material gathered by the Metropolitan Police during its investigation into the deaths.

In a statement, the Met Police said: "Significant enquiries carried out by specialist officers into the events leading up to the collision established that the driver suffered a previously undiagnosed seizure which caused her to lose control of the vehicle".

Sajjad Butt, Smera Chohan, Franky Lau and Jessie Deng, the parents of Nuria and Selena, said their children had been in one of "the safest places" they could have been "celebrating a day filled with joy".

They expressed their disappointment in the Met Police's investigation, adding: "We remain unconvinced that a fair and thorough investigation was conducted."

After issuing a statement where they questioned how they were supposed to go on after the incident, they finished saying: "Justice has neither been done, nor has been seen to be done today.

"Nuria and Selena deserved better."

Police officers were present with the family as the CPS relayed its decision, and detective chief superintendent Clair Kelland said she had offered to meet with them to answer any questions.

She added that police understood that some people may feel "let down" by the decision.

But she said: "To bring charges in cases like this there needs to be an element of responsibility on the part of the driver, and, given the circumstances, this was simply not borne out on this occasion."

The CPS said: "We have carefully considered this complex and sensitive case, taking into consideration all the material gathered as part of the lengthy and detailed police investigation.

"The driver of the vehicle had an epileptic seizure behind the wheel, which caused her to lose control of the vehicle which then drove into the school.

"There is no evidence the driver had ever suffered a similar seizure before and she had no previously diagnosed medical condition.

"Because there is nothing to suggest the driver could have done anything to predict or prevent this tragedy, it is not in the public interest to pursue a criminal prosecution."

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Ms Freemantle expressed her "deepest sorrow" over the deaths and said she had "no recollection of what took place" after losing consciousness because of the epileptic seizure.

She said: "Since I became aware of the terrible event that took place on 6 July, the devastating consequences for all those affected have not left my thoughts and will be with me for the rest of my life.

"I can only express my deepest sorrow for the families who have suffered such dreadful loss and injury.

"As a mother, I understand there can be no words that adequately express the pain and loss resulting from what happened in those horrendous moments while I was unconscious."

She added: "My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of the children and families affected, and especially to the parents of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau."

(c) Sky News 2024: Wimbledon school crash: Families of two eight-year-old girls killed criticise decision to not charge driver