Wimbledon crash: Family of Selena Lau pay tribute to 'cheeky girl adored by everyone'

• ITV News Reporter Ellie Pitt reports from the scene after a Land Rover crashed into a building at a prep school in Wimbledon which killed an eight-year-old child and has left another child and a woman in her 40s in a critical condition

The family of the little girl who died after a car crashed into a school in Wimbledon has paid tribute to her.

"Selena was an intelligent and cheeky girl adored and loved by everyone. The family wishes their privacy to be respected at this sad time,” the Lau family said.

An eight-year-old girl and a woman in her 40s remain in a critical condition after a Land Rover car hit a primary school building in Wimbledon during an end-of-term tea party.

Twelve people were injured in the collision, including a seven-month-old baby. Her condition is considered not to be life-threatening.

Tributes were left at the school gates on Friday to eight-year-old Selena.

The Metropolitan Police continue to question a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon after a nearly three-tonne Land Rover Defender crashed into The Study Prep school just before 10am on Thursday.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in late July.

Officers are not treating the incident as terror-related.

Police said the school-age children were pupils at the school and the injured adults were parents and carers of the children, not staff members.

A Met statement said: “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.

“She was taken to hospital – her condition was assessed as not life-threatening. She has been bailed pending further inquiries to a date in late July.

“Detectives from the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are leading the investigation and their inquiries are ongoing. They are expected to remain at the scene throughout the day.

“The investigation remains in its early stages and officers are keeping an open mind whilst following up all lines of inquiry. We ask that people do not speculate about the circumstances while this work is ongoing.”

Flowers and tributes had been placed along the entrance to the school on Friday morning after the police cordon had been removed.

Ian Hewitt, chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis club, the organisers of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, left flowers at the scene. He told reporters: “We feel closely associated with the community.

“What a tragic incident we just offer our heartfelt sympathies to all affected.”

One tribute left at the scene said: “To the Study and parents. So sorry for this tragic loss to the school and the family. Forever in our thoughts.

Another read: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you all on this tragic day.”

Sophia Graham, 27, and Tayla Landsberg, 22, from New Malden, brought flowers to the police cordon on Thursday evening.

Ms Graham said: “When we found out one of the kids had died it was awful.

“When the police made their announcement it was so sad to see even them get emotional. It’s made a big impact on everyone.

“Kids walk in the Common freely without thinking about it.”

Ms Landsberg said: “It’s usually very peaceful, very bubbly with lots of fun activities going on.”

London Ambulance Service said it sent 15 ambulances to the incident and treated 16 patients at the scene. Twelve were taken to hospital.

The school said in a statement that it was “profoundly shocked” by what happened.

A statement on its website added: “Our thoughts are with the bereaved family and with the families of those injured at this terrible time.

“It is still far too soon to fully understand what happened, but we are well aware of the significant impact this dreadful event will have on our pupils and their families.

“Their welfare remains our top priority and we will be doing everything we can to support them, especially those who suffered injuries.”

The Met said on Friday that this "was the largest local policing deployment in south-west London since 2017 and our officers, along with members of the other emergency services, were met with a challenging and traumatic scene".

Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, local policing commander for south-west London, said: "I understand many people will want answers about how this happened and there is a team of detectives working to establish the circumstances. I would ask the community to avoid speculating on a possible cause whilst these enquiries are carried out."

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