The driver of the 4×4 which crashed into the Study Prep school in Wimbledon killing two schoolgirls has been arrested after detectives reopened the investigation, the Metropolitan Police said.
The 48-year-old female driver of the Land Rover Defender killed Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau – both eight years old – when the car ploughed through the school’s gates on July 6, 2023.
She has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
This is the second time she has been arrested for this offence, the first time being at the scene of the collision.
The first investigation conducted by the Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) in June 2024 found that the driver had suffered an epileptic seizure and would face no criminal charges.
However, a review was launched after “concerned” family members were “unconvinced” that the investigation was conducted thoroughly.
In October, the force said it would reopen its inquiry, under the lead of Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford.
Following the arrest, Basford said: “I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to any witnesses or individuals with information who are yet to speak to police to please come forward.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The Land Rover Defender inside the grounds of The Study Preparatory School in Camp Road, Wimbledon, south London
PA
“Were you attending the local golf course or driving in or around the area of the Study Prep School in Wimbledon at the time of the collision? Did you see the vehicle – a distinctive gold Land Rover Defender – in the lead up to the collision? We believe there were people in the local area who have not been spoken to by police and remain unidentified. I would ask those individuals to please contact us.
“Our main priority is to ensure the lines of enquiry identified by the review are progressed. This is a live investigation and in order to maintain its integrity I can’t go into further detail at this stage. I would urge people to avoid speculation.”
Selena’s mother Jessie Deng said her family have been in a “strange kind of limbo”, The Daily Mail reported.
She said: “All we have ever wanted is a thorough and open investigation for Selena, Nuria and the other families whose lives were turned upside down one summer afternoon, whatever the outcome might be.
“Before the 6th of July 2023, I had always believed the police would be there, for anyone, at their time of need. Instead, since that day, we have been left in a strange kind of limbo not knowing why this tragedy occurred.
“This new investigation is welcome and I sincerely hope that this ongoing nightmare for all of the families and Selena’s schoolmates can come to an end soon.”
The school had been celebrating the last day of the summer term when the tragedy unfolded in July 2023.
