A woman has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a car crashed into a primary school in Wimbledon, south-west London, in July 2023, killing two eight-year-old girls. Claire Freemantle faces two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. She is due to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on 21 May.
The crash occurred on 6 July 2023, the last day of the summer term, when a Land Rover Defender veered off the road at the junction of Camp Road and Wimbledon Common, smashed through a wooden fence, and struck the Study Preparatory School building. Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight, died at the scene. Several other people, including a baby and adults, were injured. The school, a private preparatory school for girls aged 4 to 11, was holding an end-of-term tea party in the library at the time.
The CPS initially decided not to bring charges, stating that the driver had suffered an epileptic seizure at the wheel and therefore could not be held criminally responsible. That decision was reviewed after the victims’ families exercised their right to request a review under the CPS victims’ right to review scheme. Following the review, the CPS reversed its position and authorised the charges. A CPS spokesperson said: “Following a review of the evidence, we have authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Claire Freemantle with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.”
Selena Lau’s family said: “We welcome the decision to charge the driver and hope that justice will be served.” Nuria Sajjad’s family said: “We are relieved that the driver is finally being held accountable for her actions.” The families had campaigned for charges after the initial decision, and their request for a review led to the reversal.
The Metropolitan Police arrested the driver at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and she was later released under investigation. The case has been reported across media outlets with varying emphasis. Left-leaning sources highlighted the families’ relief and the CPS reversal, while right-leaning sources focused on the original decision being overturned and the driver being held accountable after a campaign. All sources reported the same core facts: the deaths of the two girls, the charge, and the court date.
Freemantle will appear before magistrates on 21 May. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted.
Read the original coverage
💬 Comments
📜 Comment Policy