The UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has chosen not to prosecute Claire Freemantle, the driver involved in a tragic accident that claimed the lives of Nuria Sajjad, an eight-year-old Indian-origin schoolgirl, and her schoolmate. The incident occurred when Freemantle suffered an epileptic seizure while driving, causing her to lose control of her vehicle, which crashed into Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon, south-west London, in July last year.
Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London Homicide Unit, described the incident as an "unthinkable tragedy." After conducting a thorough investigation, Narwal determined that pursuing criminal charges was not in the public interest.
According to Narwal, Freemantle had no history of previous seizures or diagnosed medical conditions that could have predicted or prevented the accident. Medical records and consultations with neurological specialists confirmed that this was her first seizure. As a result, the CPS concluded that there was no basis to suggest she could have foreseen or prevented the tragedy.
Narwal emphasized the CPS's engagement with the bereaved families throughout the investigation process to keep them informed and explain the decision-making. He expressed sympathy for the families, acknowledging the profound impact of the incident on them and the wider school community.
Claire Freemantle, who voluntarily surrendered her driving license after the incident and must remain seizure-free for a year before reapplying, expressed regret over the tragic outcome. The families of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, the other victims, expressed disappointment with the CPS decision, stating that justice had not been served.
The families highlighted that the victims were innocent and were in a safe place when the accident occurred, marking a devastating loss that has deeply affected their lives.
