The woman who fatally rammed her Land Rover into a Wimbledon school in London, UK, killing 8-year-old student Selena Lau, may have been suffering from seizures when driving, according to reports.
The Thursday's Tragedy
Last Thursday, July 6, students at the all-girls The Study Prep in Wimbledon were having a picnic on the school grounds when a car sped through a gap in the fence and slammed into a wall. The London Ambulance Service said 16 persons were treated at the site, and 10 were sent to local hospitals.
The Sun reported that the police are investigating whether or not the driver of the Land Rover had a medical emergency before the event. The media outlet quotes an unnamed source saying the 46-year-old lady was "delirious" and had chewed through her tongue when police arrived at the school.
"The driver was in a delirious condition and had bitten through her tongue," they stated. "She'd stopped outside the school but the car took off as if the driver had suddenly floored the accelerator. At this point the police believe she had some kind of seizure just before the accident."
After being taken into custody on suspicion of causing a fatality by reckless driving, the lady was released on bail, awaiting further investigation.
The day after the accident, Metro UK said that Lau's family published a statement calling her an "intelligent and cheeky girl adored and loved by everyone."
A minute of silence was observed by members of the adjacent Wimbledon Common Golf Club, and bouquets of flowers were laid out along the roadway in front of the Study Prep school as a respect to the kid.
In a separate report by Metro UK, the Metropolitan Police released an update on Friday afternoon, July 7, saying that another 8-year-old child and a lady in her 40s are in severe condition.
One of the hospitalized was a baby girl aged seven months; her condition was deemed stable.
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'Challenging and Traumatic'
Chief Detective Superintendent Clair Kelland stated that Thursday's event required the largest local police response in southwest London for six years.
She called the scenario "challenging and traumatic," adding, "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."
She also acknowledged that this unfortunate event has repercussions beyond where it happened and that the required help is being coordinated with their partners.
Anyone with information or who may have seen anything concerning the event is encouraged to phone the Metropolitan Police Department at 101 and mention case number CAD 2200/06Jul.
