Driver who crashed into Wimbledon prep school and killed two girls is charged with causing death by dangerous driving

A driver who crashed into a prep school killing two girls has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving nearly three years after the tragedy.

Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both aged eight, were killed in July 2023 when their Land Rover Defender left the road and crashed through the fence at Wimbledon’s Work Preparatory School while the children and staff were at an end-of-year tea party.

Nine children and three adults were also seriously injured.

Driver Claire Freemantle was arrested following the crash on July 6, 2023, but prosecutors decided not to file any criminal charges in June 2024 after Ms Freemantle claimed she had her first epileptic seizure behind the wheel.

Now the CPS has charged the 49-year-old with nine offenses in connection with the fatal collision outside The Study Prep School in Wimbledon on July 6, 2023.

Deputy Crown Prosecutor David Malone, London North, said: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Claire Freemantle, 49, on two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and seven offenses of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

‘This charging decision was made after the Metropolitan Police reopened its investigation into the collision and significant new evidence was forwarded to us for consideration.

‘Following this review, our prosecutors sought to determine that there was now sufficient evidence to bring this case to trial and that it was in the public interest to continue the criminal prosecution.

‘We worked closely with the Metropolitan Police as they conducted the second investigation into the collision.

‘This was a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the families of Nuria and Selena for their devastating loss, as well as those seriously injured and those affected by the collision.

‘We know that this incident has had a profound impact on the wider community. However, we remind all concerned that the proceedings against the defendant are now active and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.’

Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight years old, died when their Land Rover Defender crashed into Labor Preparatory School.

Land Rover Defender on the grounds of The Study Preparatory School, Camp Road, Wimbledon, south London

Concerns were later raised about the initial investigation; This led to a serious case review that revealed significant shortcomings on the part of officers, including the evaluation of medical evidence that led to the case being dropped.

The Met announced in October 2024 that it had reopened its investigation into the crash following an internal review which identified a number of missed lines of inquiry.

Last year Ms Freemantle was rearrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was interviewed in custody about the circumstances of the crash.

Mark Jones, criminal defense partner at Payne Hicks Beach LLP, said in a statement on behalf of Claire Freemantle that she would not admit the offences.

He said: ‘Claire, a mother of school-aged children, will be tormented for the rest of her life by the terrible loss and injury resulting from the unimaginable tragedy of that day. Completely devastated by the terrible consequences for everyone so tragically affected.

‘But Claire doesn’t remember that terrible tragedy. Moments before the accident, Claire suffered an epileptic seizure with loss of consciousness and memory. This diagnosis was not made by Claire herself or by a specialist Claire instructed, but by an independent medical professional instructed by the police.

‘Witnesses at the scene were quoted in the media as describing Claire as delirious and biting her tongue; This is a feature specific to people who have epileptic seizures. Paramedics who saw him immediately afterwards stated that he was in a ‘postictal state’, which is also a symptom of someone suffering from an epileptic seizure.

Claire presented all her medical records to the police. Police confirmed that these medical records showed that he had never previously experienced symptoms of epilepsy. The CPS’ decision at the time was not to charge Claire because there was no element of legal liability.

‘On 24 June 2024, following the initial police investigation, Crown Coroner Jaswant Narwal publicly confirmed: ‘The driver of the vehicle suffered an epileptic seizure behind the wheel, which caused him to lose control of the vehicle and then drove towards the school. There is no evidence that the driver had ever had a similar seizure and had no previously diagnosed medical conditions.

‘As there is nothing to suggest that the driver could have done anything to anticipate or prevent this tragedy, it is not in the public interest to pursue criminal prosecution.’

‘No other medical evidence was presented throughout this second investigation to contradict the diagnosis of epilepsy. However, we can confirm that since July 6, 2023, Claire has had further seizures. The police are aware of this. He is under medical care and treatment due to his condition.

‘We believe that the CPS’s initial decision was the right one in these tragic circumstances and that there are serious questions that need to be answered about the reasons for the reversal of that decision today.

‘Now that the hearings are live, there are limits to what we can and should say. ‘There will be no further comment at this stage and Claire requests that her and her family’s privacy be respected by the media.’

In a previous statement in 2024, the driver expressed his “deepest sorrow” but stated that he “did not remember anything about what happened.”

He said: ‘Since I became aware of the horrific incident that took place on 6 July, I have been haunted by the devastating consequences for those affected and will stay with me for the rest of my life.

‘I have since been diagnosed as having an epileptic seizure with loss of consciousness. This was not a pre-existing condition. ‘I don’t remember what happened as a result of losing consciousness.’

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating four serving officers and one former detective police officer for possible gross misconduct relating to the previous botched investigation.

One of the key issues in the original research was the diagnosis of epilepsy, which is known to be extremely difficult to detect without brain scans taken shortly after the seizure and a detailed evaluation of the patient’s medical history.

A review of the original investigation revealed missed opportunities by the Road Traffic Accident Unit by failing to interview key witnesses at the scene, including the school principal who comforted Nuria as she lay injured.

Bereaved families and survivors have previously said: ‘We have always sought the truth and will continue to advocate for full clarity about what happened on that devastating day and the subsequent actions taken by the Metropolitan Police.

‘The truth must come to light.’

The watchdog is examining allegations that Met officers ‘provided false and misleading information to those affected and whether officers’ treatment of those affected was influenced by their race’.