Driver charged in Wimbledon school crash that killed two girls
Driver charged in Wimbledon school crash that killed two girls
A 49-year-old driver has been charged with causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving after a Land Rover hit The Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon, killing two eight-year-olds on the last day of term.
A Land Rover crashed through the railings of a south London school on the last day of the summer term, killing two eight-year-old girls and shaking a community. The driver, Claire Freemantle, 49, has now been charged with causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving following the July 2023 incident at The Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon. She is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 June to enter a plea. Her lawyers say she will plead not guilty and that she remains utterly devastated by the unimaginable tragedy.
Until now, the investigation had led to the Metropolitan Police saying the driver had suffered an epileptic seizure and that no criminal charges would follow. Freemantle’s rearrest and subsequent release under investigation in January last year prompted renewed scrutiny from the families of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, who were killed, and from the wider community. The defendant’s representatives have stated there are serious questions to be answered about why the initial decision not to charge was later reviewed.
Freemantle’s lawyers emphasise that she has no recollection of the events and faces a lengthy legal process ahead. The families and supporters have called for transparency and accountability as the case moves forward. The Metropolitan Police have issued an apology for the way the incident was handled at the outset, acknowledging room for improvement in the initial response and communications surrounding the investigation. The court process will determine the next steps in a case that has left a lasting impact on Wimbledon and the families involved.
