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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Daniel Keane

'Unconvinced' families of Wimbledon school crash victims tell Sadiq Khan to speed up investigations

The families of two girls who were crushed to death by a 4x4 at a Wimbledon school have met with Mayor Sadiq Khan amid calls for quicker investigations into crashes involving children.

Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both aged 8, died after a Land Rover Defender crashed into an end-of-term party being held at the Study Preparatory school on July 6 last year.

Investigators concluded that the driver, Claire Freemantle, had suffered an epileptic seizure behind the wheel and would not face criminal charges.

But last month, the Metropolitan Police launched a review into the investigation after the families of the victims said that they remained “unconvinced” that it had been conducted thoroughly.

Nuria’s parents and Selena’s father met Mr Khan on Wednesday with their solicitor Trevor Sterling.

Mr Khan will ask the force to consider prioritising traffic death investigations involving children, it is understood.

A spokesperson for the Mayor told the Standard: “The Mayor is heartbroken by the tragic deaths of Nuria and Selena. Their deaths shocked us all.

“The Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime have met with both families and it is right that the Met have committed to addressing their questions and concerns by carrying out a review of the investigation.”

The Land Rover Defender inside the grounds of The Study Preparatory School in Camp Road, Wimbledon, south London (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Archive)

Earlier this year it emerged that the Met’s investigation had been delayed by a lack of specialist forensic collision investigators.

In June, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that Ms Freemantle would not face charges.

Mr Sterling told the BBC that the delay had a “significant impact” on the Sajjad and Lau families, as well as others injured in the crash.

"What we have are parents in particular that saw their children or others fatally or seriously injured - witnessing that would have been traumatic," he said.

Helen Lowe, who was headteacher at the school at the time of the crash, has previously said that she feels “let down” by the police investigation.

Ms Freemantle has previously expressed her “deepest sorrow” and said she had “no recollection of what took place” after losing consciousness at the wheel.

“Since I became aware of the terrible event that took place on July 6, the devastating consequences for all those affected have not left my thoughts and will be with me for the rest of my life,” she said.

The Met Police has been contacted for comment.

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