'I MISS YOU'
Wimbledon: Pals leave heartbreaking note for girl, 8, killed after car ploughed into school injuring students and baby
DEVASTATED pals of a schoolgirl killed when a car smashed into a school have left a heartbreaking note paying tribute to the "shining star".
Another eight-year-old is fighting for her life and a baby is injured after the Land Rover hit one of the buildings at The Study prep school in Wimbledon, South yesterday.
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This morning the eight-year-old girl who lost her life in the crash was named as Selena by heartbroken members of the community.
16 people including a seven-month-old girl were rushed to hospital and their conditions have been assessed as not life-threatening.
But another eight-year-old girl and a woman, in her 40s, remain in hospital in critical condition.
This afternoon young pals of Selena left heartbreaking tributes at the scene.
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One note in children's handwriting reads: "Dear Selena, I will always think of you. I will miss you so much.
"I miss you. I will never forget you."
Another floral tribute read: "Dear Selena, you will always be our shining star. We will miss you so much."
The driver of the car, a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
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She was taken to hospital - her condition was assessed as not life-threatening.
She has been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in late July.
'GIRLS SCREAMING'
It comes as witnesses reported hearing piercing screams during the horror incident.
One man, who drove past the scene just seconds after the crash, told : "The girls were screaming - it was harrowing.
"Everyone was rushing, saying a car had just driven into the grounds.
"There was one little baby that was in the ambulance who was crying uncontrollably."
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland choked back tears yesterday as she revealed the news of the child's death.
She said: "Our officers, along with our colleagues from the other emergency services, provided first aid to a number of people who had been injured.
"Very sadly, one of the children, an eight-year-old girl, died at the scene.
"Our thoughts are with her family at this incredibly difficult time."
Medics and rangers from Wimbledon Common rushed to help the school after the horror accident.
An unnamed dad slammed the 20mph road by the school as an "accident waiting to happen".
He said it was "too busy" and that "nobody knows" who has the right of way as the road tightens into a bottleneck.
The crash is not being treated as terror-related.
The Home Secretary Suella Braverman offered her condolences to the families, while Education Secretary Gillian Keegan described the news as "devastating".
END-OF-TERM TEA PARTY
The children were taking part in a tea party outside when the vehicle careered across the grass, crushing tables and chairs before hitting the building.
Glass shards and wall rubble were left strewn across the playground.
One local said: "It’s terrible, the children were sat on the grass with their teachers for the end of the school year having a tea party."
Fellow resident Julie Atwood added: "My daughter used to go to this school. It's a girls' school.
"Wimbledon is like a little village. For this to happen in Wimbledon is unheard of. It's terrible."
The nearby golf course was closed and used as a base by emergency services yesterday.
One golfer told The Sun: "It was their last day of school. A couple of parents were there too.
"They are traumatized. I think there was a gym teacher there who actually saw it."
The school issued a statement yesterday evening, saying staff are "profoundly shocked"; by the awful news, which had a "significant impact" on pupils and families.
A spokesperson added: "Our thoughts are with the bereaved family and with the families of those injured at this terrible time."
It comes as the borough is currently hosting to the world-famous tennis championship that bears its name.
A Wimbledon spokesperson said: “On behalf of everyone at Wimbledon, we wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the tragic events at Wimbledon Study Preparatory School.
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“Our thoughts are with them, their families, the school and the wider community at this deeply distressing time.”
The £16,000-a-year school caters for girls up to age 11, where headteacher Helen Lowe was on her last day.
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