AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL and a woman in her 40s are in a critical condition in hospital after a car, whose driver has been bailed, crashed into an end-of-term tea party at a prep school yesterday.

A second eight-year old girl, who has not been named, died of her injuries following the collision at the Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon, south-west London.

Several other people – including a seven-month-old girl – were also taken to hospital and their conditions have been assessed as not life-threatening, the London police said.

The injured adults were parents or carers and not staff at the school, the police added.

Community members have paid tribute to a “shining star” following the crash.

Police are continuing to question a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon who was driving the car, whose condition is not life-threatening.

She has been bailed pending further inquiries to a date later this month.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Officers are not treating the incident as terror-related.

Detective chief superintendent Clair Kelland, local policing commander for south-west London, said: 

“It is difficult to imagine the pain and upset the families of those involved are going through and we will do all we can to support them as our investigation continues.

“I understand many people will want answers about how this happened and there is a team of detectives working to establish the circumstances.”

A police cordon was no longer in place this morning while flowers and tributes had been placed along the entrance to the school.

A woman wearing a blue sling around her arm visited the scene and left flowers in a box and a card.

She paused to look at the flowers and was consoled by a man she was with.

She left a note at the scene saying: “Dear Selena, you will always be our shining star. We will miss you so much.”

The note included a picture of a star and had kisses on it.

Another 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.”

Ian Hewitt, chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis club (Wimbledon), also laid 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.”

A local teacher, who did not want to be named, told the PA news agency: “A friend of mine has friends who have children who go to the school.

“She said they have all kinds of broken bones including a broken pelvis.

“I’m a teacher and I’m a mother and it could have happened to us. It could have happened to anybody.”

Members of the Wimbledon Common Golf Club, which is opposite the school, held a minute’s silence outside the school gates this afternoon.

Speaking afterwards, Peter Thompson, chairman of the golf club, said: “We’re close neighbours, we’ve got close links with The Study.

“When they were doing their refurbishments they used one of our offices. It’s shocked the whole membership.

“It’s just so sad to lose someone so young.”

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.

- Press Association