A woman named Claire Freemantle, aged 49, faces charges related to a tragic incident where a 4×4 vehicle she was driving struck and killed two eight-year-old schoolgirls at a primary school in Wimbledon, south London, in July 2023. The charges include causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. The two girls, Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, lost their lives in the crash, while several other children at the school were also injured.
Claire Freemantle is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 16. The incident occurred during a school event on July 6, where families had gathered to mark the end of the term. Following an initial investigation by the Roads and Transport Policing Command, the Crown Prosecution Service decided in June 2024 not to pursue further action against Freemantle.
However, concerns raised by the families of Nuria and Selena led to a review of the investigation by specialists. Commander Charmain Brenyah, who heads the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, expressed sympathy for the families and acknowledged the need for independent scrutiny of the matter. The ongoing investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into the initial handling of the case is fully supported.
In response to the tragic incident, the Met plans to revamp its approach to investigating fatal and serious collisions to provide better support and outcomes for the victims and their families. Meanwhile, Claire Freemantle’s legal representative, Mark Jones of Payne Hicks Beach LLP, stated that she would plead not guilty to the charges. Jones highlighted that Freemantle, a mother herself, had no recollection of the event due to an epileptic seizure just before the crash, leading to loss of consciousness and memory.
Jones disclosed that medical records confirming her epilepsy diagnosis and related symptoms had been shared with the authorities. He mentioned that the CPS initially found the driver’s loss of control to be a result of an epileptic seizure, stating it was not in the public interest to prosecute. Freemantle continues to receive medical care for her condition, having experienced further seizures since the incident.
As legal proceedings are ongoing, Jones emphasized the need for privacy for Claire and her family, refraining from further comments at this stage.
