LONDON — Authorities have filed criminal charges against a 49-year-old woman whose vehicle crashed into an end-of-school celebration at a London elementary school, resulting in the deaths of two young girls and injuries to multiple others.
Claire Freemantle now faces two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and seven counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, prosecutors announced Friday. The charges stem from a July 6, 2023 incident when her Land Rover crashed through a fence and struck a tea party celebration at the Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon, south London.
The crash claimed the lives of 8-year-old students Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, while more than a dozen other people sustained injuries. Ten individuals, including several children, required hospital treatment following the collision that also damaged the school building.
Initially, prosecutors declined to file charges after determining Freemantle had suffered an epileptic seizure. At that time, she released a statement expressing her “deepest sorrow” while stating she had no memory of the events.
However, the Metropolitan Police reopened their investigation following persistent complaints from the victims’ families. Authorities discovered new evidence during this second investigation, though they have not disclosed the specific nature of these findings.
London police have acknowledged mishandling the initial investigation and issued an apology. The department has also submitted its officers’ conduct to an oversight agency for review regarding potential misconduct.
Freemantle’s defense team has questioned the decision to reverse the original determination and indicated she will enter a not guilty plea. Her first court appearance is scheduled for June 16 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
