UK
Wimbledon school crash: Woman will not face charges after death of two girls
A woman arrested over a car crash that killed two eight-year-old girls at a school in Wimbledon will not face charges, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.
Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau died after a Land Rover smashed through a fence and collided with a building at The Study Prep school in Camp Road, southwest London.
The school had been hosting an end-of-term party at the time, on the morning of 6 July last year.
Nuria Sajjad, left, and Selena Lau, both eight, died after a car crashed into a school in Wimbledon
More than a dozen people were injured and a 46-year-old woman, later named as Claire Freemantle, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
However, in an announcement today, the CPS said it would not be pursuing charges against her.
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They described the deaths as an “unthinkable tragedy” but said Ms Freemantle had suffered an epileptic seizure when behind the wheel.
“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,” they said in a statement.
“Having carried out a detailed examination of her medical records we know that she couldn’t have predicted or prevented the incident.”
They added: “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.”
In a statement, Ms Freemantle expressed her “deepest sorrow” over the deaths and said she had “no recollection of what took place” after losing consciousness because of an epileptic seizure at the wheel.
Emergency services at the scene of the crash
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 have since been diagnosed as having suffered an epileptic seizure with loss of consciousness.
“This was not a pre-existing condition. As a result of losing consciousness I have no recollection of what took place.
“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.
“My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of the children and families affected, and especially to the parents of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau.”
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